Crestwood reaches $15M settlement with residents

CRESTWOOD, Ill. (WLS) -- The Village of Crestwood reached a $15 million settlement with 341 residents who were suing after ingesting water tainted with chemicals linked to cancer.

"No amount of money is ever going to bring back my wife, Sharyn," Ronald Szwajkowski said. Sharyn died of brain cancer in 1997.

Tricia Krause and two of her three children developed various forms of cancer, while her third child, Brooke, committed suicide following a lifetime of neurological disorders.

"It was not a coincidence. We have no family history of any of these cancers. Out of the 100 people on either side, it didn't add up, being sick on a regular basis," Krause said.

In 1985, environmental officials warned about the cancer causing chemicals- vinyl chloride and dichloroethylene- found in the community well. For two decades, Crestwood officials lied about using that water for the drinking supply. Two officials were indicted in the cover-up, but current Mayor Lou Presta insists the water did not pose a danger to residents.

"We're not admitting no guilt. As far as I know, in the 8 years this case has been going on, I have not seen anything, they haven't proved anything. But for the village this is the best deal," Mayor Lou Presta said.

Mounting legal bills could reach into the hundreds of millions of dollars if the case were to go to trial, officials said. If approved, most of the funds would come from a $9 million bond issue. The residents of Crestwood have 31 days to challenge it. Another $3 million would come from current funds and the rest from insurance.

In 2010, the Illinois Department of Health found cancer rates were higher in Crestwood than other areas.

The Village of Crestwood was one of several defendants, including Burke Engineering, which will pay $18.3 million in the tainted water case, attorneys said. The other defendants will pay $1.3 million.

If the bond issue goes forward, both sides say they hope to have this fully resolved by the end of the year.