Judge Henry J. Boroff of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Massachusetts said on May 19 that the Chapter 11 Plan of New England Compounding Center will be approved. The New England Compounding Center has been blamed for a meningitis outbreak, allegedly caused by a tainted steroid produced in a contaminated cleanroom, which resulted in 64 confirmed deaths and hundreds of ill patients in 20 states.
Under the plan, about $200 million will be established in a Tort Trust to compensate people who suffered personal injury and/or death due to the allegedly contaminated drugs. A CBS News report says that about 3,300 victims are eligible for compensation from this fund, and they should start receiving these payments before the end of the year.
In May 2014, a settlement filed with Judge Boroff sought a fund of more than $100 million.
Read past CE stories:
Settlement Seeks $100M Fund for Meningitis Victims: http://www.cemag.us/news/2014/05/settlement-seeks-100m-fund-meningitis-victims
Pharmacist Arrested in Meningitis Cleanroom Case: http://www.cemag.us/news/2014/09/pharmacist-arrested-meningitis-cleanroom-case
Cleanroom Manager Pleads Not Guilty in Meningitis Case: http://www.cemag.us/news/2014/09/cleanroom-manager-pleads-not-guilty-meningitis-case
Murder Charges Brought in Cleanroom Meningitis Case: http://www.cemag.us/news/2014/12/murder-charges-brought-cleanroom-meningitis-case
Read more about the latest settlement:
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bankruptcy-judge-to-approve-chapter-11-plan-of-new-england-compounding-center-300086512.html
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/judge-approves-200-million-settlement-over-meningitis-outbreak/