Rockton Chemtool neighbors in process of filing claims for part of $94.5M settlement

People who lived within three miles of Chemtool in 2021 when the industrial building caught fire and exploded, have until Sept. 12 to file a claim for a portion of a $94.5 million class action settlement reached with the company.

Many neighbors, property owners and tenants were forced to evacuate or shelter in place during the June 14, 2021, industrial fire at 1165 Prairie Hill Road in Rockton. They were made part of a class action lawsuit that seeks to compensate those residents for the property damage caused by toxic smoke, dust and debris released by the fire.

Chemtool has denied any wrongdoing and blamed another company for starting the fire.

Those who are part of the class action lawsuit should have recently received either a claim code via email they can use to access an online version of the form or a hard copy of the claim form in the mail.

The forms "contain specific instructions about how to fill them out, the due date for the claim form and provides examples of documents that establish their ownership/residence as of June 14, 2021," attorney Edward Manzke of The Collins Law Firm said in an email to the Rockford Register Star.

"The claim forms are all vetted to avoid any potential fraud," Manzke said.

Lawyers representing the class action lawsuit, which strictly deals with property damage suffered during the Chemtool fire and not personal injuries, reached a preliminary settlement with the company in May. Participants in the suit have until Aug. 13 to file an objection to the settlement.

Final approval of the settlement is scheduled to proceed Sept. 27 at the Winnebago County Courthouse before Judge Stephen Balogh.