top of page

FLINTWATER

OFFICIAL SETTLEMENT WEBSITE

INFORMATION ABOUT THE COURT’S ORDER GRANTING PRELIMINARY APPROVAL OF

NEW CLASS SETTLEMENT WITH THE VNA DEFENDANTS

On June 17, 2024, the Court issued an Order granting preliminary approval of a new class settlement with the VNA Defendants, which would add additional funds to the Settlement Fund for those who are eligible VNA Class Members. A copy of the Order can be found HERE. On June 20, 2024, the Court issued an order providing a schedule for addressing the proposed Class settlement with VNA defendants.  A copy of the schedule can be found HERE.

 

The new VNA settlement applies to VNA settlement Class Members.  You are a VNA Class Member if for any period of time between February 10, 2015, and July 31, 2016, you:

  • owned or were the lessee of residential real property that received water from the Flint Water Treatment Plant, or were legally liable for the payment of such water (Property Damage Subclass);

  • owned or operated a business, including income earning real property and any other businesses, that received water from the Flint Water Treatment Plant and are claiming or could claim a resulting business economic loss (Business Economic Loss Subclass); or

  • ingested or came into contact with water received from the Flint Water Treatment Plant and are claiming or could claim a resulting personal injury (Adult Exposure Subclass); and

  • were 18 years old as of January 31, 2024.

  • AND YOU ARE NOT REPRESENTED BY COUNSEL WHO IS NOT CLASS COUNSEL.  (If you are represented by counsel (other than class counsel) you are not a class member.)

 

If you are a VNA settlement Class Member and you already registered for one of the prior settlements AND filed a timely claim form, you do not need to do anything to participate in the new settlement. You are automatically considered a claimant for this new VNA settlement. If you are a VNA settlement Class Member and did not file a claim form for the prior settlements, you need to submit a Claim Form by mail postmarked by September 16, 2024, to get any money from the VNA Settlement Fund. A copy of the Notice, Claim Form, and Instructions for this new VNA Settlement can be found HERE. NOTE: It has come to Class Counsel’s attention that the Lien Resolution Form necessary to the claims process for claimants alleging damage to property they own was omitted from the VNA Settlement Notice package sent to unregistered class members. This form can be found HERE. If a Lien Resolution Form is not submitted, the claimant will be sent a notice and will have a further opportunity to submit the form. The VNA Settlement Notice further references a Release Form as part of a complete claims package. That form is no longer necessary. If you have any questions, you may contact Class Counsel at 866-536-0717 or info@flintwaterjustice.com. Please provide your name (and if you have it the Flint ID Number that was contained on the bottom of your forms). Please allow at least two business days for a response.

 

THE DEADLINE TO FILE CLAIM FORMS AND ALL SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION FOR THE VNA SETTLEMENT IS SEPTEMBER 16, 2024.

On July 30, Class Counsel filed their petition for attorneys’ fees and reasonable expenses in conjunction with the VNA Class Settlement. Their brief and supporting materials can be viewed HERE.

IF YOU ARE A MINOR AS OF JANUARY 31, 2024 OR IF YOU ARE REPRESENTED BY INDIVIDUAL COUNSEL YOU ARE NOT A MEMBER OF THE VNA SETTLEMENT CLASS AND YOU CANNOT PARTICIPATE IN THE VNA SETTLEMENT.
 

THE DEADLINE TO SUBMIT CLAIM FORMS AND ALL SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION FOR THE ORIGINAL SETTLEMENT WAS JUNE 30, 2022. Please CLICK HERE to read the order. The deadline to submit claims under the LAN settlement was January 16, 2024.  Please CLICK HERE to read the order.  IF YOU DID NOT SUBMIT CLAIMS FOR THOSE PRIOR SETTLEMENTS AND YOU ARE A VNA CLASS MEMBER YOU ARE STILL ELIGIBLE FOR THE NEW VNA SETTLEMENT IF YOU SUBMIT A CLAIM BY SEPTEMBER 16, 2024.

If you filed a claim in the original settlement or in the LAN settlement, you will receive a notice with a decision on your claim. If you disagree with that notice or if the notice says that you are missing some documentation or information, you will have the opportunity to submit additional information on reconsideration. Your notice letter will explain how to do that.

If you have any questions related to your submitted claims package, you may email flintwater@archersystems.com.  Please provide your name (and if you have it the Flint ID Number that was contained on the bottom of your forms).  ​Please allow at least two business days for a response.

Please be advised that notices are now being sent with decisions on claims under the original settlement. The notices are being sent out on a rolling basis.  The first set of notices were sent on April 28, 2023, so you may hear about people receiving notices. Do not worry if you have not yet received yours as they are being sent out on a rolling basis.  Most of the notices should be distributed by the end of July 2024. 

 

If you have any questions or issues, please call our help line at (800) 493-1754.  The hours are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday from 8:00 AM EST through 5:00 PM EST,  and Thursday from 8:00 AM EST through 7:00 PM EST. Closed on Saturday and Sunday.   

UPDATE REPORT FROM THE SPECIAL MASTER
ON THE FLINT SETTLEMENT PROGRAM

The process for handling claims has been complicated and lengthy. The process is designed to maximize the number of claimants who qualify for settlement funds. To avoid the denial of eligible claims, the Settlement provides that claimants are permitted to seek reconsideration and to appeal when their claims are denied. The ongoing work is directly related to finalizing the process with integrity and to assisting claimants so that they are able to qualify for the settlement. Importantly, the Special Master has instituted procedures and obtained data from third parties to assist claimants who are unable to locate certain documents.

 

The claims are reviewed carefully to protect the settlement fund from being diluted by ineligible claims. For example, the claims administrator has received claims from individuals who were not in the City of Flint during the water crisis or who did not own or rent residential property in the City of Flint.

 

As noted, any claimant who receives an initial notice of determination on their claim and wishes to dispute the determination, may request  reconsideration. As of December 20, 2024, the claims administrator had received 12,847 reconsideration requests.

 

All claimants have the right to seek an appeal if they wish to dispute the decision on reconsideration. The appeals are reviewed by the Special Master. As of today, the Special Master has received over 1,000 appeals – each of which is reviewed carefully to assure that eligible claimants receive the correct determination.

 

The review tasks are not complete: there are still reconsideration requests and appeal requests that require final review, and thousands of claimants still have the right to submit appeals and reconsiderations.

 

As of January 8, 2025, the claims administrator has sent 65,596 notices to claimants to inform them of the result of their claim or reconsideration. Of that total 54,260 are initial notices and 11,336 are notices following requests for reconsideration. These notices have been issued through two procedures: notices for claimants who are represented are uploaded to the law firm claims portal and the law firm then notifies their client. Notices for claimants who are not represented are mailed to the claimant. (A total of 13,540 claimants have been sent notices by mail.) A claimant who is not represented by a law firm and has not received a notice, may send an email to flintwaterclassaction@pittlawpc.com or call 866-536-0717 to inquire about their notice.

 

As of January 8, 2025, 27,581 claims have been approved (for 25,516 individual claimants.) Of the individual claimants, 12,170 were adults at the time of the water crisis and 13,346 were minors at the time of the water crisis.

 

Of the total claims approved – 15,363 are injury claims; 12,082 are properties that have been found eligible for payment; and 136 are business claims.

 

Once all reconsiderations and appeals of claims are completed and final, claimants who are approved will receive a letter advising of the amount of their payment and the process for electing the form of payment. Adult claimants will be able to elect digital payments, direct deposit, or check payments. In general, digital payments and direct deposit payments are more secure and preferred. There will be a process for claimants to make their elections directly on a secure online platform so that each claimant can provide the necessary instructions for payment. These instructions can be provided by counsel for those claimants who are represented. There will be a procedure for those who cannot access an online platform to make their elections via a paper submission. The Court and Special Master are developing a check distribution process to ensure that claimants who would like to receive paper checks can receive the checks securely. The bank that issues the checks will waive any check cashing fees for those who do not have accounts.

 

To be clear: the Special Master has not yet issued payment notices to any law firm or individual claimant. Those notices will be issued as soon as possible in the near future. Claimants’ lawyers cannot provide any more detail than this at the current time.

 

Claimants who are minors must receive payment through a structured settlement or a trust according to the settlement terms and state law. The Court has already approved two trusts – one special needs trust and one preservation trust. Claimants who are disabled and who receive needs-based assistance (including adults) should use the special needs trust. That is the best way to ensure that the claimant can continue to receive needs-based benefit payments. Other claimants can elect the preservation trust or the structured settlement (and most minor claimants have already made that election.) In each case, the claimant’s representative will need to sign the structure or trust forms. Once those forms are finalized, the funds will be wired to the structure annuity provider and the trustee, as applicable.

 

We anticipate that the letters with payment information will be distributed soon – but as noted they cannot be distributed until all reconsideration and appeal deadlines have passed and all reconsiderations and appeals have been finalized. Some claimants still need to provide information to the claims administrator to finalize their claim. Anyone who received a letter advising of information that must be provided (mostly identification and signatures) should submit the information as soon as possible. Any claimant who has questions should contact their lawyer or class counsel if they are not represented by a specific law firm. Claimants may also contact the Special Master’s office with questions.

 

The Special Master can be reached at Deborah.Greenspan@blankrome.com.​​

 

Date: January 8, 2025

/s/ Deborah E. Greenspan                     

Deborah E. Greenspan

Special Master

HELPFUL RESOURCES

ORDER GRANTING STIPULATION REGARDING ACCESS TO AND USE OF EDUCATIONAL RECORDS FOR LIMITED PURPOSES [2388]

What is a Next Friend?

What is a Next Friend?

For a link to a template next friend appointment package, please click HERE

FAQs regarding Notices, Award Amount and Payment
 

ADDITIONAL LANGUAGES

FORMULARIO DE RECLAMACIÓN

CERTIFICACIÓN DE LA FIRMA

INSTRUCCIONES PARA EL FORMULARIO DE RECLAMACIÓN DE LA INDEMNIZACIÓN DEL AGUA DE FLINT

TABLA DE COMPENSACIONES

FORMULARIO DE DIVULGACIÓN DE GRAVÁMENES

DECLARACIÓN DE PRUEBA DE EXPOSICIÓN

DECLARACIÓN DE PROPIETARIOS DE INMUEBLES Y NEGOCIOS

FORMULARIO DE RECLAMACIÓN POR INTERRUPCIÓN DE LAS ACTIVIDADES COMERCIALES

NOTIFICACIÓN ADVERSA DE LA RECLAMACIÓN DEL AGUA DE FLINT

NOTIFICACIÓN ADVERSA DE LA RECLAMACIÓN DEL AGUA DE FLINT PARA TUTORES

NOTIFICACIÓN FAVORABLE DE LA RECLAMACIÓN DEL AGUA DE FLINT

NOTIFICACIÓN FAVORABLE DE LA RECLAMACIÓN DEL AGUA DE FLINT PARA TUTORES

FORMULARIO DE SOLICITUD DE RECONSIDERACIÓN

 

 

El paquete del formulario de reclamación y las instrucciones están disponibles en español y árabe. Haga clic aquí para acceder a dichos documentos.

نموذج مطالبة

إقرار بالتوقيع

تعليمات من أجل نموذج دعوى التسوية بشأن مياه مدينة فلينت

مجموعات التسوية

نموذج الإفصاح عن الرهن التأميني

إعلان عن برهان التعرض لمخاطر

إعلان من مالك المنشأة أو صاحب العمل

نموذج دعوى تعطل الأعمال

نموذج مطالبة سلبي حول مياه فلينت

نموذج المطالبة سلبي حول مياه فلينت أجل أصدقاء الجوار

نموذج مطالبة إيجابي حول مياه فلينت

نموذج مطالبة إيجابي حول مياه فلينت من أجل أصدقاء الجوار

نموذج طلب إعادة النظر

ويمكن الاطلاع على استمارة المطالبة والتعليمات باللغتين الإسبانية والعربية. انقر هنا للوصول إلى هذه المواد.

home
Resources
Languages
ARCHER

THE CLAIMS ADMINISTRATOR

A Claims Administrator is an expert neutral third-party that handles the claims administration process in compliance with the court-approved settlement agreement. ARCHER Systems, LLC has been appointed by the Court to help ensure that the Flint Water Settlement is carried out with accuracy and efficiency, that all settlement proceeds are accurately distributed, that all legal aspects are adhered to, and to ensure resolution of claims / disbursement of funds as soon as possible.  

bottom of page