How To Get The Gas Explosions Class Action Settlement

NORTH ANDOVER, MA — Residents have until Jan. 31, 2020 to file a claim to receive money from Columbia Gas, under the class action settlement agreement, according to details released by the plaintiffs' lawyers Friday. All residents, property-owners and business-owners of Andover, Lawrence and North Andover on Sept. 13, 2018, the date of the deadly gas explosions, are elligible for cash payments. Class members can also apply for itemized compensation for specific extraordinary losses.

"Class Members may also be eligible to apply for itemized compensation of extraordinary losses or expenses incurred as a result of the Incident, including among other things: property damage, evacuation expenses, heating expenses, lost wages, lost business income, and emotional distress," according to the announcement. "All extraordinary loss applications will be reviewed by the Settlement Administrator and must be substantiated. An application for extraordinary losses does not guarantee receiving additional compensation and will delay receipt of your settlement award."

Otherwise, settlement amounts will take into account factors including "geographic location, household size and length of service disruption." The total settlement is for $143 million, of which the lawyers asked for nearly 20 percent. The breakdown of settlements will be subject to a "fairness hearing" on Feb. 27, 2020.

This settlement is separate from the $80 million settlement between Columbia Gas and the three municipalities.

Claimants must file a claim in order to receive any compensation, which they must do by submitting a claim form by mail. The claim form and details on how to file are available at columbiagasexplosionsettlement.com. Class action members can also object to the terms of the settlement, by Dec. 10, 2019.

The lump sum settlement amounts are estimated to range from $50 for a nominal disruption to $15,000 for a major disruption, but they may be bigger or smaller based on how many people file claims.

The settlement details come one day after the National Transportation Safety Board issued its final report, finding "weak engineering management" led to the gas explosions. The explosion skilled one, injured 22 and damaged 131 structures, as well as taking gas service offline and forcing the evacuation of hundreds of homes.

Update: The deadline for filing, initially Jan. 9, was later extended to Jan. 31.