Limetree Bay $59.8M St. Croix Refinery Settlement

Danielle Toth

Editor

Published

September 16, 2026 3:19 PM

Updated

September 16, 2026

Who can file a claim?

To be eligible for compensation from the settlement, a person or entity must meet at least one of the following criteria:

They owned or rented property (real and/or personal) in the affected geographic area on or after Feb. 3, 2021.
They resided in, worked in, owned or operated a business in, or were present in the affected geographic area at any time from Feb. 3, 2021 to May 26, 2021.
They are a retained client of any law firms comprising class counsel before the date of execution of the settlement agreements and assert or could assert claims arising out of the Incidents

The affected geographic area is defined as the western portion of St. Croix, specifically bounded by 64.74 degrees west longitude and the sea. The settlement website includes a map of the affected area.

Additional details

If an individual received a notice by mail or email, they are likely a class member.
The settlement includes both property owners and renters, as well as those who were present in the area for work or other reasons during the specified period.
Claimants can include immediate family members (spouse and minor children) on a single claim form, but adult children must file separately. The claim form will ask for the names of all included individuals.

How much is the Limetree Bay payout?

The total settlement fund is $59,795,000. The amount each class member receives depends on a pro rata point system that considers the type and extent of harm suffered. The settlement administrator will assign points based on:

Property damage (including contamination to water cisterns)
Nuisance and trespass
Economic losses
Physical and emotional health manifestations
Non-reimbursed out-of-pocket expenses

The administrator will calculate each eligible claimant’s payment based on their proportion of point to the total points of all claimants, then multiply it by the net settlement fund after deductions for fees, costs and service awards.

Additional information

Property owners and renters can receive points for property damage and use of cistern water.
Individuals with health issues, especially those with medical records, may receive additional points.
Those with economic or business losses, or out-of-pocket expenses, must provide documentation for reimbursement.

The settlement website provides the specific payment grid and point system.

How to claim a settlement payment

Class members can complete the online claim form or download, print and fill out the PDF claim form then mail it to the settlement administrator.

Settlement administrator’s mailing address: Limetree Bay Settlement Administrator, P.O. Box 2420, Portland, OR 97208-2420

If the administrator finds a claim form deficient, it will notify the claimant, who will have 21 days to fix the deficiency.

The claim deadline is Nov. 3, 2026.

Is proof or documentation necessary to submit a claim?

Yes. Claimants must provide documentation to support their claims, such as:

Proof of residence, ownership or presence in the affected geographic area (e.g., driver’s license, lease, utility bill, pay stub, etc.)
Documentation of property damage (e.g., photos, repair bills, etc.)
Medical records (if seeking compensation for medical treatment)
Receipts or invoices (if seeking out-of-pocket expenses)
Tax forms or financial documents (if seeking business losses)

If a claimant does not have a unique ID and PIN from the settlement notice, they must provide documentary proof of identification.

Claims involving medical visits may require the claimant to submit a lien disclosure form and may be subject to Medicare or other insurer withholdings

Payout options

Physical check by mail
Direct deposit via ACH transfer (requires routing and account number)
Digital payment via Venmo or Zelle (requires associated email or phone number)

$59.8 million settlement fund

The $59,795,000 settlement fund will cover:

Settlement administration costs: To be determined
Attorneys’ fees: Up to $19,932,350
Attorneys’ expenses: To be determined
Service awards to class representatives: Up to $5,000 each
Payments to eligible class members: Remaining funds

Important dates

Opt-out deadline: Oct. 27, 2026
Deadline to file a claim: Nov. 3, 2026
Final approval hearing: Dec. 14, 2026

When is the Limetree Bay settlement payout date?

The settlement administrator will issue payments as soon as practicable and within 120 days after the court resolves any appeals and grants final approval to the settlement.

Why is there a class action settlement?

The class action lawsuit alleged several incidents at the Limetree Bay Refinery in early 2021 allegedly released hazardous substances into the air, affecting residents and properties in western St. Croix. The plaintiffs claimed property damage, health issues and financial losses.

The settling defendants deny wrongdoing but agreed to settle after court-ordered mediation to avoid the risks and costs of ongoing litigation. Litigation continues against non-settling defendants.