A fire and mass evacuation at the Winston Weaver fertilizer plant in Winston-Salem, NC on January 31, 2022 allegedly caused economic and nuisance-related damages to nearby businesses due to defendant's negligence.
Eligibility
Businesses or charitable organizations that operated or were located within the one-mile evacuation zone of the Winston Weaver facility on January 31, 2022 and sustained economic and/or nuisance-related damages (excludes personal injury and residential claims, which were covered by a separate, now-closed $8M settlement).
Estimated Payout
Flat $10,000 payment with no documentation required, OR an uncapped claim for documented actual net business losses, plus up to $25,000 for extraordinary loss/property damage if taking the flat payment; drawn from a $4.5 million fund subject to pro rata reduction.
Claim Deadline
2026-07-15
Background
The underlying lawsuit accuses Winston Weaver of negligence, negligence per se, gross negligence, and both private and public nuisance in connection with the fire and evacuation — claims the company denies. Business class members can choose between a no-documentation flat payment of $10,000, a documented claim for actual net business losses, or a documented claim for extraordinary losses/property damage (capped at $25,000 if paired with the flat election), and payouts are subject to a pro rata reduction if total valid claims exceed the fund. The court granted final approval of the $4.5 million business settlement on May 21, 2026.