DETROIT — A Michigan judge has given final approval to the record-breaking $626 million Flint water crisis partial settlement with the state of Michigan and other entities, putting Flint residents a step closer to receiving financial compensation for the man-made disaster that began nearly a decade ago.
In a ruling on Monday, Genesee County Circuit Court Chief Judge David J. Newblatt granted final judgment in cases that were pending in the local court involving defendants who previously had agreed to settle with Flint residents. Newblatt’s order to dismiss the pending cases and to implement the settlement was one of the final procedural steps in the process.
The $626 million award includes $600 million from the state, $20 million award from the city, $5 million from McLaren Regional Medical Center and $1.25 million from private engineering company Rowe Professional Services Co. The settlement agreement was initially announced in August 2020.
