GKN Aerospace has agreed to an up-to-$100 million claims program aimed at the 50,000-plus residents of Garden Grove and surrounding cities forced to evacuate over Memorial Day weekend when a failing toxic-chemical tank threatened to explode, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office announced on Monday, Aug. 24.
The announcement comes as discussions between GKN and the District Attorney’s Office over the full impact of the high-profile chemical scare and related evacuations continue, DA officials said.
The two sides are still discussing a comprehensive safety plan that would likely include independent monitoring of the Garden Grove facility. And prosecutors said they are also negotiating potential additional financial reimbursements for expenses incurred by first responders and emergency-services agencies who took part in the massive hazardous-material situation.
The announcement of the claims agreement and discussions of a civil settlement ends a criminal investigation that Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer announced in the midst of the evacuations.
For the past few months, investigators conducted onsite inspections, reviews of plant records, and consultations with experts, according to the District Attorney’s Office. Following those efforts, prosecutors opted to pursue a civil agreement with GKN Aerospace rather than a criminal case.
The details of the claims program — including how residents and businesses can apply — have yet to be determined.
The program is expected to be administered by an unspecified third party not affiliated with GKN. But prosecutors said the program is meant to address the costs incurred for hotel stays, meals, transportation or loss wages.
The five-day evacuation impacted an estimated 13,000 to 17,000 households, prosecutors say.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
Related Posts:
- Bring color to your garden and salads with a variety of radishes News Five things to do in the garden this week: Fruits. Dragon fruit is ready to pick from July through October, 30-50 days after flowering. It ripens on the vine and is ready for harvest when the green skin turns yellow, pink, or red, depending on the variety. Fruit is ripe…
- Trump Jr. Defends JD Vance “Blood of Those People” Speech, “Career Misfortune?” News At a rally in his hometown of Middletown, Ohio, Vice President JD Vance told the story of Kevin Flanagan, a computer programmer who was fired from his job and told that in order to collect his severance, he would need to train his “foreign” replacement, which he did. On his…
- Attorney General Bonta excels at self-promotion but buries legal losses that cost California News Driven by either genetic impulse or vocational training, politicians habitually brag about how they are serving those who voted them into office. Gavin Newsom is an obvious example. He and his minions issue a steady stream of statements, press releases, social media postings and YouTube videos patting himself on the…
- Former acting U.S. attorney dies in San Diego federal building News Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Haden, who twice served as acting U.S. attorney for the Southern District of California during transitions between full-time leaders, died late Wednesday inside the downtown San Diego federal building that houses the U.S. Attorney’s Office, authorities said Thursday. A 48-year-old father of two school-aged children and…
- Former sheriff’s deputy convicted of killing Sonya Massey dies, attorney says News Sean Grayson, the former Sangamon County sheriff’s deputy who was convicted and sentenced for murdering Sonya Massey inside her home, died on Sunday, his attorney said. He was 32. His lawyers had said he was diagnosed with colon cancer a few years ago, which later spread to his liver. Just…
(Visited 1 times, 1 visits today)