A federal judge has awarded over $680,000 to 17 families affected by a 2021 jet fuel leak that contaminated the Navy’s drinking water system in Hawaii. This decision establishes a precedent for approximately 7,500 other military families, civilians, and service members who have pending lawsuits. U.S. District Judge Leslie Kobayashi distributed awards ranging from $5,000 to over $104,000 per plaintiff, although these amounts were significantly below the $225,000 to $1.25 million requested by the plaintiffs’ attorney, Kristina Baehr.
Baehr expressed disappointment with the ruling but noted that the families achieved a measure of vindication against the U.S. Government, emphasizing that their case demonstrated the severity of the contamination. The government had acknowledged liability but contested the extent of exposure and health impacts, arguing that the plaintiffs’ symptoms might be psychosomatic.
The contamination originated from a leak at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility, which has large tanks hidden within a mountain ridge above Pearl Harbor. In May 2021, over 20,000 gallons of fuel escaped through a ruptured pipe and remained trapped for six months before being released into a water supply that serves about 90,000 people. Following the spill, many military families reported health issues, including vomiting and skin problems, which later evolved into more serious conditions like seizures and asthma.
The incident has prompted widespread criticism of the Navy’s response, with a subsequent investigation revealing missed opportunities for timely action and failure to communicate potential risks to residents. In response to the public outcry, the military has committed to draining and closing the facility, which was completed last year.
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