People who owned, rented or leased a home within one mile of the Koppers facility in Cicero, Illinois, at any time from August 6, 2019 to September 22, 2026 may qualify to claim an equal per-household share of the $625,000 Koppers odor class action settlement. Claims must be postmarked by December 7, 2026, and the final approval hearing is set for January 19, 2027.
Current Status
Claims are open. Claim forms must be postmarked by December 7, 2026. The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois has preliminarily approved the settlement, and the final approval hearing is set for January 19, 2027, at 11:00 a.m. No final approval order or payment date had been announced as of November 6, 2026. The deadline to opt out or object is November 21, 2026 (postmark).Free settlement alerts
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What Changed Recently?
Judge Jorge L. Alonso of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois preliminarily approved the settlement of Petrus v. Koppers Inc., Case No. 1:24-cv-06872, and notices with claim forms have gone out to households in the class area.The lawsuit alleges that odorous emissions from Koppers’ facility on South Laramie Avenue in Cicero invaded homes and public spaces within one mile of the plant from August 6, 2019 onward. Koppers denies any fault, liability or damages, and no judge or jury has found in favor of either side. The settlement was reached after a settlement conference and is not an admission of wrongdoing. Class counsel’s case page states that the facility has announced it will wind down operations.
Who Qualifies?
The settlement class covers everyone who owned, rented or leased any residential property located in whole or in part within one mile of the Koppers facility in Cicero, Illinois, at any time from August 6, 2019 through September 22, 2026. The notice includes a rough map of the class area, but it states the map is illustrative and does not decide who is in the class.Past owners and past renters are included if they lived or owned property in the area during that period. The claim form also requires a sworn certification that the claimant has not been diagnosed with an illness or injury caused by Koppers and has not received Medicare or other government benefits for one.
How Much Can You Get?
Payments are made per household, not per person. After court-approved attorneys’ fees, litigation expenses and the service award are paid from the $625,000 fund, the remainder is divided equally by the number of addresses with approved claims. No per-household estimate has been published, and the amount will not be known until all claims are reviewed.Class Counsel will ask for attorneys’ fees of up to one-third of the fund, plus its litigation expenses, and a $7,500 service award for the class representative. The court decides those amounts at the final approval hearing. Checks must be cashed within 180 days of the date on the check.
What Proof or Notice ID Is Required?
The claim form must be signed under oath and must include:- A copy of a government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license or state ID card, showing identity and current address.
- The claimed address in the class area and the dates the claimant owned or lived there.
- For an owner, documentation of ownership, such as a current utility bill.
- For a renter or other occupant, a copy of a valid rental agreement or a current utility bill.
What Is the Deadline?
Claim forms must be postmarked by December 7, 2026. The notice does not specify a time zone.Requests to opt out and written objections or comments must be postmarked by November 21, 2026. Opt-out requests must be mailed letters containing the exact exclusion statement printed in the notice; they cannot be made by phone or email. A request to speak at the hearing must be included with a timely written objection or comment.
How Do You Take Action?
The claim form is part of the court-approved notice, which also lists where to mail it and the exact opt-out wording. Class counsel, Liddle Sheets P.C., handles the claims in this case and also offers an online version of the claim form.Class members who do nothing receive no payment and are still bound by the release, which covers claims about the impact of odors or emissions from the facility on property within one mile through the settlement’s effective date. The release does not cover medically diagnosed personal injuries or conduct after the effective date.
What Happens Next?
Judge Alonso will decide at the January 19, 2027 hearing in Chicago whether to grant final approval and how much to award in fees, expenses and the service award. The hearing may be held by phone or video if the court directs. If the settlement is approved, Class Counsel will begin reviewing claim forms; the notice says an appeal could delay payments. No payment date had been announced as of November 6, 2026.Sources and Verification
- Notice of Proposed Class Action Settlement and Claim Form (PDF)
- Petrus v. Koppers Inc., No. 1:24-cv-06872 (N.D. Ill.), preliminary approval order and settlement agreement
- First Amended Class Action Complaint, Petrus v. Koppers Inc.
Questions
Do two people in the same home each get a payment?
No. The net fund is divided by the number of addresses with approved claims, and one check goes to each household. The claim form has room for the claimant and a spouse, but the payment is per address, not per person.
Does the settlement affect personal injury claims?
The release covers claims about the impact of odors or emissions from the facility on property within one mile, through the settlement’s effective date. It does not cover claims for medically diagnosed personal injuries. The claim form does require each claimant to certify, under penalty of perjury, that they have not been diagnosed with an illness or injury caused by Koppers and have not received Medicare or other government benefits for one.
Can a former renter who moved away still file?
The class covers anyone who owned, rented or leased a home in the one-mile area at any time from August 6, 2019 to September 22, 2026, so a past occupant can fall within it. The claim form asks for the dates at the claimed address and, for an occupant, a copy of a rental agreement or a utility bill for that address, along with a government-issued photo ID.
What happens to a check that is never cashed?
Checks must be cashed within 180 days of the date on the check. After that they are void, and the claim form states that everyone in that household forfeits the payment.
