Ex-Ramsey County inmates to get TB payouts

A federal judge in St. Paul on Tuesday approved a multimillion-dollar settlement between Ramsey County and former inmates over a 2008 tuberculosis outbreak in the county's workhouse.

U.S. District Judge Richard Kyle took little time to sign off on the class-action lawsuit, which provides cash and medical care to the former inmates based on their exposure to the disease. More than 100 people could be in line to receive compensation.

The settlement calls for $6.5 million in base payments for the former inmates, although the costs could rise in the future depending on how many inmates develop complications from the disease.

The inmates sued in October 2008, claiming the county didn't properly test an infected inmate earlier that year, and intense negotiations have gone on since. Attorneys for both sides have called the settlement a major compromise.

Kyle called the case "hard-fought" and told both sides they ought to feel good about the settlement.

The Ramsey County Board voted 6-1 Tuesday morning to put up to $10.7 million into a fund to pay for the settlement. Commissioner Janice Rettman dissented.

The county is self-insured, so tax money will be used to fill that fund. The county will pay for claims as they come in, not cut one big check to be divvied up among eligible people.

The inmates' attorneys -- from Flynn, Gaskins & Bennett and Sieben, Grose, Von Holtum & Carey -- will be paid $2.6 million.

The settlement covers inmates who were at the workhouse between April 17 and June 9, 2008. After the infected inmates came forward, the county sought people who were there during that time and offered to test them for the disease.

There are two kinds of TB, active and latent. The disease can affect any part of the body, although it's most common in the lungs and spreads when someone with active TB in the lungs coughs, sneezes or talks, and others breathe in the bacteria. People generally need to be in close contact for many hours with someone who has active TB to get it.

About 170 former inmates tested negative, while 93 tested positive for latent infection and seven tested positive for active TB. Nearly 200 more people have yet to be tested.

Former inmates who have active TB will receive one-time payments of $250,000 and free annual checkups. There's also a process where they could get up to an additional $250,000 if complications arise related to the original diagnosis.

Inmates who haven't been tested will be offered screening and will be eligible for the benefits if they have either form of the disease.

Inmates and former inmates who test negative for TB will receive no benefits.

A second related federal lawsuit filed by the original infected inmate is pending. It seeks $14 million in damages.