Mesothelioma and Asbestos Victims on St. Croix Benefit from $106 Million Hess Settlement
The U.S. Virgin Islands are not generally associated with sickness and death, but residents of St. Croix have suffered for years from asbestosis, mesothelioma, and other asbestos-related diseases. Their illnesses came from having worked at the asbestos-contaminated Limetree Bay refinery on the island’s south shore. For years there have been lawsuits and litigation surrounding the plant, and last month the company’s owner, Hess, finally agreed to a settlement that will put $106 million into a trust for the former refinery workers and their families.
Former Refinery Workers Diagnosed with Mesothelioma
The settlement will benefit those diagnosed with mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases as well as those not yet diagnosed and those who have lost family members. It comes after decades of litigation surrounding the Limetree Bay refinery, which operated from 1965 to 1998 and is said to have exposed countless residents and workers in St. Croix to asbestos and other carcinogenic materials. The refinery was operated by Hess and its subsidiaries, and then later sold to Hovensa. It was finally closed in 2012, though there have been attempts to reopen it.
Since 1987, over 1,500 mesothelioma victims and others have sought compensation from the oil company, and in response Hess’ subsidiary HONX filed for bankruptcy to protect the company’s billions in assets from asbestos claimants. The settlement will set aside $90 million for those who have already filed lawsuits against the company, $15 million for those who may yet file claims if they are diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases in the future, and $1 million to cover administrative costs. The company has also agreed to provide an additional $10 million if future claims exceed the $15 million that has already been agreed to within the trust’s first seven years of operation.
Settlement Blocks Future Mesothelioma or Asbestos-Related Action
In agreeing to the settlement, mesothelioma victims and the company agreed that this action will preclude any future lawsuits filed against the company for asbestos exposure from the refinery. For those who file claims, the trust will determine compensation based on disease level, duration of asbestos exposure, and the severity of the individual claimant’s condition.
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