Welcome to the PPG Jersey City Settlement Website.

On April 28, 2021, the Claims Administrator issued checks to eligible Class Member who submitted a Claim that was approved by the court in the PPG Jersey City Settlement.

The amount of your check was determined by applying the Court-approved Plan of Allocation of Payments to Class Members as set forth in the Settlement Agreement.

Please cash this check promptly as it becomes void and subject to re-distribution if not cashed within 90 days after the issue date on the check.

Los cheques se enviaron por correo a todos los miembros del Grupo de demandantes elegibles el 28 de abril de 2021.

El monto del cheque se determinó mediante la aplicación del Plan de asignación de pagos aprobado por el Tribunal para los miembros del Grupo de demandantes, conforme se establece en el Acuerdo de conciliación.

Tiene 90 días contados a partir de la fecha de emisión del cheque para cobrar o negociar el cheque.

Si necesita que se vuelva a emitir el cheque por cualquier motivo, envíe un correo electrónico al Administrador de reclamos a: Questions@PPGJerseyCitySettlement.com.


On September 16, 2020, the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey granted preliminary approval to the settlement of Mattie Halley, et al. v. PPG Industries, Inc.

Your legal rights are affected whether you act or don’t act. Read the Notice carefully.

In order to be included in the settlement, you must have owned your property at any time during the period May 17, 2010, through June 5, 2019.


Summary of Your Legal Rights and Options in This Settlement
Submit a Claim and Release Form Along with Proof of Property Ownership This is the only way you can get a payment. A Claim and Release Form must be returned with proof of property ownership by January 18, 2021.
Exclude Yourself or “Opt-Out” from the Settlement If you exclude yourself or “opt out,” you get no money from the settlement. Excluding yourself of “opting out” is the only option that allows you to ever to be part of any other lawsuit against PPG about the legal claims in this case. If you wish to exclude yourself from the Settlement, you must mail your exclusion request, postmarked no later than January 18, 2021.
Object If you do not exclude yourself, you may write to the Court about why you don't like the Settlement. Your objection must be mailed to the Court, postmarked no later than January 18, 2021.
Go to a Hearing If you object, you may also ask to speak in Court about the fairness of the Settlement. The Court will hold a Fairness Hearing at 2:30 p.m. on January 28, 2021.
Do Nothing If you do nothing, you will get no payment. You will also give up your rights to ever sue PPG about the legal claims in this case.

Overview

A settlement has been reached in a class action involving residential properties around 880-900 Garfield Avenue on the east side of Jersey City, New Jersey. These residential properties are located in neighborhoods in the vicinity of certain historical “chromium sites.” The “chromium sites” are properties located around 880-900 Garfield Avenue (the “Garfield Avenue Facility”) where chromium chemical products were manufactured and on which chromium ore processing residue (“COPR”) was disposed of between approximately 1905 and 1963. These sites are in various stages of remediation being performed or having been completed by PPG Industries, Inc. (“PPG”). The sites are designated as Hudson County Chromium Sites 114, 121, 132, 133, 135, 137, 143, 186, and 207, as well as properties 33 Pacific Avenue, 800 Garfield Avenue, 816 Garfield Avenue, 78-104 Halladay Street; 84, 86-90, 98-100 and 108 Forrest Street, 457 Communipaw Avenue, Pacific Avenue/Caven Point Avenue, North and South Halladay Street, Carteret Avenue, Forrest Street, and Garfield Avenue.

The Lawsuit

On May 17, 2010, three plaintiffs filed this lawsuit on behalf of themselves and as the representative of a class of similarly situated persons, asserting nuisance and other claims, alleging their properties have been adversely impacted by a chrome ore processing plant and the generation, disposal and alleged historical failure to properly remediate hexavalent chromium and other chemical contamination and COPR within the Settlement Class boundaries, at several locations around 880-900 Garfield Avenue on the east side of Jersey City, New Jersey, and in other areas throughout Jersey City. The COPR and alleged related hexavalent chromium and other chemical contamination came from a chromium manufacturing facility formerly operated at 880-900 Garfield Avenue, Jersey City, New Jersey from 1905 until 1963. These three plaintiffs alleged that the generation, disposal and historical failure to properly remediate these chromium sites and associated contamination adversely impacted their use and enjoyment of and caused other property damage to their properties.

The Settlement

There has been no trial in this case. Instead, the Plaintiffs and PPG agreed to settle this case to avoid the costs and risks of trial. The Settlement provides the opportunity for payment to eligible Class members. In exchange, under the Settlement, Class Members each give a release, which releases PPG for certain claims related to the claimed release, migration or impacts or effects of COPR, hexavalent chromium, or other chemical contamination present on, originating from or released, emanating, or migrating at or from: (a) the Garfield Avenue Facility; (b) Hudson County Chromium Sites 114, 121, 132, 133, 135, 137, 143, 186, and 207; or (c) the following properties: 33 Pacific Avenue, 800 Garfield Avenue, 816 Garfield Avenue, 78-104 Halladay Street; 84, 86-90, 98-100 and 108 Forrest Street, 457 Communipaw Avenue, Pacific Avenue/Caven Point Avenue, North and South Halladay Street, Carteret Avenue, Forrest Street, Garfield Avenue, or the Settlement Class Area. The Settlement Class is divided into three geographic subclass zones: “Zone 1,” “Zone 2,” and “Zone 3.” (See the map below for the properties covered by the Settlement.)

The Settlement requires PPG to place Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000.00) into a settlement fund to be distributed (after payment of certain approved expenses) to eligible class members. The Settlement provides for a monetary payment to the owners of each eligible Class 2 Residential Property in Class B, as defined in the Settlement Agreement. The exact amount of any final payment to the property owners will depend on the Court’s award of attorneys’ fees and expenses, costs of administration, and the number of eligible members participating. However, if all eligible properties in each zone participate, it is estimated that each eligible property in Subclass Zone 1 will receive approximately Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($2,500.00); each Settlement Class Property in Subclass Zone 2 will receive approximately Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00); and each Settlement Class Property in Subclass Zone 3 will receive approximately One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00).

You can review the complete Settlement Agreement here.

Properties Covered by the Settlement

If you owned Class 2 Residential Property in Class B during the period May 17, 2010, through June 5, 2019, you may be entitled to receive a settlement payment.

Please see the map here and those contained in the Notice, to determine if your property is covered by the Settlement Agreement, and if so, in which zone it is located.

The area of the Class 2 Residential properties covered in Class B is generally bounded by Ocean Avenue between Bayview Avenue and Grand Street; Grand Street between Ocean Avenue and Communipaw Avenue; Communipaw Avenue between Grand Street and before Communipaw turns northeast; Suydam Avenue, Pine Street, and Whiton Street southwest of Communipaw Avenue; Distillery Drive; Pacific Avenue from Communipaw Avenue to Caven Point Avenue; Caven Point Avenue between Pacific Avenue and Garfield Avenue; Garfield Avenue between Caven Point Avenue and Bayview Avenue; and Bayview Avenue between Garfield Avenue and Ocean Avenue. Class B includes properties located on both sides of the boundary streets contained in the class definition.

The Settlement Class is divided into three subclass zones: “Zone 1,” “Zone 2,” and “Zone 3.”

If you are not sure if you are in the Class, you can call 1-866-977-0858 to see if your property is included in the Settlement.

The Frequently Asked Questions page of this website has more information on your rights as a Settlement Class Member in this Action.