Business owners impacted by the massive fire at the Winston Weaver fertilizer plant four years ago attended a meeting Thursday to learn about filing claims for compensation from a $4.5 million class action settlement. Latosha Coleman, owner and operator of A Touch of Faith Hair Design, said she was surprised and grateful for the opportunity to be reimbursed for damages caused by the fire.”I’m actually first of all shocked that they were to come back around and see what was going on, what happened and how we were affected,” Coleman said. She explained that her business suffered as clients avoided the area due to concerns about fumes and potential health risks.”Clients were scared to come, people were just scared in general,” Coleman said.Roberto Helguera, a senior attorney and class action expert, said he visited businesses near the site and heard similar concerns from owners. “If you are a business owner within a couple of blocks of this mess, you’re not going to go back until someone tells you it’s absolutely safe,” Helguera said.He emphasized the importance of Thursday’s town hall meetings to help business owners navigate the complex paperwork required to file claims. “We have two types of claims, as I said before: a flat claim, which is two-and-a-half pages of essential information paperwork, and then we have a net actual losses form,” Helguera said.While Thursday’s meeting provided an opportunity for business owners to discuss the process in person, Coleman noted that many people remain unaware of the settlement. “We have to stand together, like if you see something and you see somebody could be in need, come on, if it’s going to hurt or help, whatever, if it’s going to help a little bit, who can turn down the help,” Coleman said. Impacted business owners have until July 15 to submit their claims.To file a claim or to learn more information, click here. Keep up with the latest news and weather by downloading the WXII app here.Subscribe to WXII’s free YouTube channel hereNAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Watch NOWCAST TV | Local News | National | News We Love Related Coverage:
Business owners impacted by the massive fire at the Winston Weaver fertilizer plant four years ago attended a meeting Thursday to learn about filing claims for compensation from a $4.5 million class action settlement.
Latosha Coleman, owner and operator of A Touch of Faith Hair Design, said she was surprised and grateful for the opportunity to be reimbursed for damages caused by the fire.
“I’m actually first of all shocked that they were to come back around and see what was going on, what happened and how we were affected,” Coleman said.
She explained that her business suffered as clients avoided the area due to concerns about fumes and potential health risks.
“Clients were scared to come, people were just scared in general,” Coleman said.
Roberto Helguera, a senior attorney and class action expert, said he visited businesses near the site and heard similar concerns from owners.
“If you are a business owner within a couple of blocks of this mess, you’re not going to go back until someone tells you it’s absolutely safe,” Helguera said.
He emphasized the importance of Thursday’s town hall meetings to help business owners navigate the complex paperwork required to file claims.
“We have two types of claims, as I said before: a flat claim, which is two-and-a-half pages of essential information paperwork, and then we have a net actual losses form,” Helguera said.
While Thursday’s meeting provided an opportunity for business owners to discuss the process in person, Coleman noted that many people remain unaware of the settlement.
“We have to stand together, like if you see something and you see somebody could be in need, come on, if it’s going to hurt or help, whatever, if it’s going to help a little bit, who can turn down the help,” Coleman said.
Impacted business owners have until July 15 to submit their claims.
To file a claim or to learn more information, click here.
Keep up with the latest news and weather by downloading the WXII app here.
Subscribe to WXII’s free YouTube channel here
NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Watch NOWCAST TV | Local News | National | News We Love
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