Limetree Bay Refinery Settlements

These proposed class settlements concern alleged harm from chemical releases and odors during the Limetree Bay Refinery restart on St. Croix in 2021. Eligible people and businesses in the defined western St. Croix area may submit a claim for a pro rata payment based on the harm they claim. The settling defendants deny wrongdoing. Claims against defendants who did not settle will continue.

deadline November 3, 2026

status Preliminarily approved

Note: This is an informational summary only. Official terms, full details, and claim forms are on the administrator site and court documents.

Benefit Summary

Eligible class members: available benefits include Pro rata settlement payment.

Payments come from the $59,795,000 settlement fund and may change after approved deductions.

Available Awards

Pro rata settlement payment

Who Is Included

The Settlement Class includes people or entities who owned or rented property in the affected western part of St. Croix on or after February 3, 2021, or who lived, worked, operated a business, or were present there from February 3 through May 26, 2021. A payment claim also requires claimed harm from the refinery release incidents.

Proof required: A claimant must submit a Claim Form with all requested information and documentation. The notice does not specify in this notice what documents are required for particular types of claimed harm; the Settlement Payment Grid is available on the settlement website.

Claim and Payment Information

Claim method: Electronic Claim Form through the HIPAA-compliant portal; hard-copy Claim Form uploaded through that portal; or mail a hard-copy Claim Form to the Settlement Administrator.
Claim deadline: 2026-11-03
Instructions: Complete a Claim Form only if you claim harm from the Limetree Bay Refinery release incidents. Include the requested information and documentation. An adult family member may submit one form for their spouse and minor children, but other adults must generally submit their own forms.

Questions & Answers

Who is included, and who can seek a payment?

The Settlement Class covers people and entities that owned or rented real or personal property in the defined area on or after February 3, 2021. It also covers those who lived, worked, owned or operated a business, or were present there between February 3 and May 26, 2021.
To seek money, a class member must also claim harm from the refinery release incidents. Being in the class alone does not establish a payment amount or guarantee payment.
The area is the western part of St. Croix bounded by 64.74 degrees West Longitude and the sea.

How will payment amounts be determined?

The $59.795 million Gross Settlement Fund is not divided into fixed individual awards. It also pays court-approved settlement administration costs, attorneys’ fees and costs, and service awards.
The administrator will use a point system and a Settlement Payment Grid. It considers claimed property damage, including water-cistern contamination, nuisance, trespass, economic losses, physical and emotional health effects, and unreimbursed out-of-pocket expenses.
Each eligible claimant’s payment will depend on their points compared with the total points awarded to all eligible claimants. The notice therefore does not state an individual payment amount.

What proof is needed, and what happens if my claim is incomplete?

A claim must include all information and documentation requested on the Claim Form. The notice does not list which documents are needed for each kind of harm; it says the Settlement Payment Grid is available separately.
If the administrator finds a claim deficient, it will send a letter. The claimant has 21 days to respond and has one opportunity to fix the listed deficiencies.
A claim can be denied if the administrator determines it conclusively shows that it is not eligible under the settlement agreements.

How do I file a claim, and can one form cover my family?

Submit the Claim Form by November 3, 2026. It may be completed electronically, or a paper form may be uploaded through the portal or mailed to the Settlement Administrator.
An adult family member may submit one form for themself, a spouse, and minor children. Other adults, other than spouses, generally need their own forms.
More than one Claim Form may be submitted before the deadline, but no one may be paid twice for the same alleged damage or harm.

When and how would payments be sent?

Payments are to be sent as soon as practicable, and within 120 days after the Effective Date. The notice does not give a calendar date for the Effective Date.
A claimant may choose check by standard mail, Venmo, Zelle, or ACH on the Claim Form or through the Settlement Website.
A mailed check remains valid for 180 days. Keep the administrator updated if your mailing address changes before payment.

What changes if I opt out of the settlements?

To leave the settlement, mail a personally signed written exclusion request that is postmarked by October 27, 2026. It must include your name, address, telephone number, email address, and a statement requesting exclusion.
A person who opts out cannot receive a settlement payment or object to the settlement. They are not bound by the settlement agreements or the release of claims.
If a class member does not opt out, the settlement releases claims against the Settling Defendants and other Released Parties if the settlements become final. It does not release claims against the remaining defendants who did not settle.

Can I object and still make a claim?

A class member who stays in the settlement may object or comment by sending a written objection to the Settlement Administrator, postmarked by October 27, 2026. Objecting does not prevent filing a claim.
The objection must provide the listed contact information, reasons and supporting materials, whether the person or their lawyer plans to attend the hearing, and the objector’s handwritten signature.
The Final Approval Hearing is scheduled for December 14, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. The notice says its date, time, or format may change.

Other Important Dates

Exclusion deadline: 2026-10-27
Objection deadline: 2026-10-27
Final approval hearing: December 14, 2026 at 9:30 AM AST
Hearing location: United States District Court of the Virgin Islands, Almeric L. Christian Federal Building and Courthouse, 3013 Estate Golden Rock, Suite 219, St. Croix, Virgin Islands 00820; courtroom to be determined.

Case Details

Total settlement fund: $59,795,000
Court: United States District Court of the Virgin Islands
Administrator: Limetree Bay Settlement Administrator
Official Settlement Website: https://www.LimetreeBaySettlement.com

Sources

Official Settlement Website
Claim form, FAQ, deadlines, administrator information

Visit Site →

Official Settlement Notice (PDF)
Court-approved notice describing eligibility and benefits

Open PDF →