Judge eliminates final hurdle in settlement of airport noise lawsuit
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The final step needed for a $126 million airport noise lawsuit settlement happened Tuesday when a judge signed off on it as a settlement for a related lawsuit.
Hennepin County District Judge Stephen Aldrich approved the settlement for a class-action lawsuit that sought relief from airport noise. The settlement had been reached in a separate noise lawsuit brought by Minneapolis, Richfield and Eagan.
Class attorney Carolyn Anderson told Aldrich that only six of 8,828 eligible households objected to the settlement. Another 13 opted out of the class, preserving their right to separate action.
The settlement provides for noise-dampening work for homes and apartments, with the amount of work increasing with the noise exposure. It covers homes in the three cities that meet the settlement's noise threshold.
Work on the most severely affected homes will be finished by the end of next year. Others won't see work begin for five years.
Blocks that are eligible for the work may be viewed at: www.startribune.com/a3534.
STEVE BRANDT
