Koppers Inc. $625,000 Odor Emissions Class Action Settlement, Who Qualifies, How to Claim, and the November 21 and December 7 Deadlines

Claim form required • Opt-out and objection deadline: November 21, 2026 (postmark) • Claim deadline: December 7, 2026 (postmark) • Final approval hearing: January 19, 2027

Koppers Inc. has agreed to a $625,000 class action settlement resolving claims that odorous emissions from its facility at 3900 S. Laramie Ave., Cicero, Illinois 60804 interfered with nearby homes and public spaces. The settlement could pay owners and occupants of residential property within one mile of the facility between August 6, 2019, and September 22, 2026.

Koppers denies any fault, liability or damages. No judge or jury has found Koppers liable. The settlement has preliminary approval but is not final, and no payment date has been set.

Time-sensitive (as of November 9, 2026): The opt-out and objection deadline is about 12 days away, and the claim deadline is about four weeks away. These are two different deadlines with different consequences. Both are based on the postmark date.

Key Takeaways

• Payment is not automatic. You must submit a valid, signed Claim Form with supporting documents. The notice calls it “the only way to get a cash payment.”
• Payment is per address, not per person. The net fund is divided by the number of addresses with approved claims.
• Renters and former residents can qualify if they occupied a home inside the one-mile area during the class period.
• Opting out is allowed. Unlike mandatory ERISA-type classes, you can exclude yourself, but then you get no money.
• Doing nothing is not neutral. You get no payment and you are still bound by the release of property-related odor and emissions claims.
• Medically diagnosed personal injury claims are excluded from the release. Read the claim form’s certification carefully before signing.
• A separate Illinois Attorney General lawsuit exists. It is not part of this settlement.

Koppers Inc. Settlement: Quick Facts

Detail	Information
Settlement amount (gross)	$625,000
Defendant	Koppers Inc.
Facility address	3900 S. Laramie Ave., Cicero, IL 60804
Lawsuit	Colin Petrus v. Koppers Inc.
Case number	1:24-cv-06872
Court	U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois (Eastern Division)
Judge	U.S. District Judge Jorge L. Alonso
Named plaintiff	Colin Petrus
Class counsel	Liddle Sheets P.C.
Class period	August 6, 2019 – September 22, 2026
Who is covered	Owners or occupants (including renters) of residential property within one mile of the facility
Claim form required?	Yes
Payment formula	Net settlement fund ÷ number of addresses with approved claims
Estimated payment	Not yet known
Opt-out deadline	November 21, 2026 (postmarked)
Objection / comment deadline	November 21, 2026 (postmarked)
Claim deadline	December 7, 2026 (postmarked)
Final approval hearing	January 19, 2027, 11:00 a.m. Chicago time (12:00 p.m. Eastern Time)
Service award requested	Up to $7,500 for the named plaintiff
Attorneys’ fees requested	Up to one-third of the settlement fund (about $208,333), plus expenses
Status	Preliminarily approved; final approval pending

What Is the Koppers $625,000 Settlement About?

The plaintiff alleges that from August 6, 2019, onward, odorous emissions from the Koppers facility “invaded” residential properties and public spaces within a one-mile radius, interfering with the use and enjoyment of property.

According to the federal court’s June 23, 2025 opinion on Koppers’ motion to dismiss, the amended complaint alleged that the odors from the coal tar processing plant made it hard to open windows, use backyards and porches, and walk in nearby parks, and that some residents reported eye irritation.

The parties settled after a settlement conference and further discussions, to avoid the cost, delay and risk of continued litigation. The notice states plainly that the settlement does not mean Koppers did anything wrong or caused any damages.

Why Did Residents Sue Koppers?

Colin Petrus filed the case on August 6, 2024, on behalf of himself and similarly situated residents. It is a property-based claim about odors and emissions. It is not a wage, employment or consumer-product case.

The amended complaint also pointed to Illinois EPA violation notices involving the facility (reported in the court’s opinion as issued in August 2020, July 2021, November 2021 and October 2023), which the plaintiff used to argue Koppers was on notice of pollution-control problems. A violation notice is not a finding of liability in a private nuisance or negligence case.

Which Laws Apply to the Koppers Odor Lawsuit?

The case asserts three Illinois common-law claims, with the backdrop of state and federal environmental law.

1. Private Nuisance

A private nuisance is a substantial and unreasonable interference with a person’s use and enjoyment of land. Illinois follows the general nuisance principles reflected in the Restatement (Second) of Torts (§§ 821D, 822). Courts typically weigh:

• Whether the interference was substantial
• Whether it was unreasonable, considering the character of the area, the severity of the interference and the utility of the defendant’s operation
• Whether it affected the plaintiff’s use and enjoyment of property
• Whether the defendant’s conduct caused it

Smoke, fumes, dust and odors are classic examples of what can support a nuisance claim. An unpleasant smell alone is not enough; the interference must be substantial and unreasonable.

2. Public Nuisance

A public nuisance is an unreasonable interference with a right common to the general public, such as public health, safety, peace, comfort or convenience. The court’s 2025 opinion discussed the public’s interest in clean air and the use of public spaces like parks. Factors courts consider include the extent of the harm, regulatory compliance, whether the operation suits its location, and whether the harm outweighs the business’s usefulness to the community.

3. Negligence

Negligence requires a duty of reasonable care, a breach, and injury proximately caused by the breach. The plaintiff alleged Koppers operated a chemical facility near residential neighborhoods and failed to use reasonable care to control emissions.

The Environmental-Law Backdrop

Law	Why it matters here
Illinois Environmental Protection Act, 415 ILCS 5/1 et seq.	The state’s main pollution statute. Section 3.115 defines “air pollution” to include emissions that unreasonably interfere with the enjoyment of life or property, and § 9 restricts air emissions and requires compliance with permits
Illinois Pollution Control Board air regulations (35 Ill. Adm. Code, Subtitle B)	Implement emission limits, monitoring and permit conditions
Federal Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. § 7401 et seq.	Sets federal air-quality and permitting frameworks that can apply to industrial facilities
Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(a), 23(b)(3), 23(c)(2)(B), 23(e)	Govern class certification, the notice and opt-out right in damages classes, and court approval of the settlement as fair, reasonable and adequate
735 ILCS 5/13-205	Illinois’s general five-year limitation period for property-damage claims, one reason timing matters if you opt out

This table is for context. The settlement notice, not these statutes, controls your rights in this case.

What Happened When Koppers Tried to Dismiss the Case?

On June 23, 2025, Judge Alonso denied Koppers’ motion to dismiss the amended complaint, allowing the private nuisance, public nuisance and negligence claims to proceed. The judge recognized that being in an industrial area is relevant to whether emissions are unreasonable, but not decisive, because the area also contains homes.

What this does and doesn’t mean: The ruling found the claims plausible enough to continue. It did not decide that Koppers caused the alleged harm or owes damages.

Is the Illinois Attorney General’s Lawsuit Part of This Settlement?

No. On June 17, 2026, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul filed a separate environmental enforcement lawsuit against Koppers Inc. and Koppers Carbon Materials LLC in Cook County, alleging repeated violations involving pollution-control equipment, emissions monitoring, testing, permit conditions and volatile organic material emissions, as described in the Attorney General’s announcement.

Private class action	State enforcement lawsuit
Colin Petrus v. Koppers Inc.	Illinois v. Koppers Inc. and Koppers Carbon Materials LLC
Filed August 6, 2024	Filed June 17, 2026
Federal court, N.D. Illinois	Cook County Circuit Court
Private nuisance, public nuisance, negligence	Environmental statutory and regulatory violations
$625,000 settlement for residents	Civil penalties and injunctive relief sought

The $625,000 settlement does not resolve the state’s case.

Is the Koppers Facility Closing?

Koppers has publicly announced it would discontinue distillation and chemical manufacturing operations at its Illinois facility, which the company refers to as its Stickney, Illinois facility, and shift production to its plant in Nyborg, Denmark. The company cited market conditions, higher costs, reduced raw-material supplies and increased capital needs. The settlement notice places the plant at 3900 S. Laramie Ave., Cicero, and Class Counsel describes the facility as winding down.

A shutdown does not decide whether past emissions were unlawful, and it does not end the state enforcement case. Check Koppers’ SEC filings for the latest operating status.

Who Qualifies for the Koppers $625,000 Settlement?

The Settlement Class consists of all owners or occupants of any residential property located within one mile of the Koppers facility at any time from August 6, 2019, through September 22, 2026, who do not opt out.

You may qualify if you:

• Owned a home within the one-mile area
• Rented or leased a home within the area
• Otherwise occupied a qualifying residence during the period
• Lived there for only part of the period, or moved away before September 22, 2026

Do you have to own the property?

No. Renters and other occupants are included.

Do former residents qualify?

Yes. Someone who rented inside the area from 2020 to 2022 and then moved out of state can qualify. What matters is the address and the dates, not where you live now.

Does everyone in Cicero qualify?

No. The test is a one-mile radius, not the town. The notice includes a rough map, but it is for illustration only and does not determine membership. If you live near the edge, call Class Counsel for free help.

Do businesses qualify?

The class definition covers residential property. A business or industrial property is not automatically included.

How Much Money Can You Get?

The fund is $625,000, but that is not what residents receive. Before payment, the following come out, subject to court approval:

• Attorneys’ fees of up to one-third of the fund (about $208,333)
• Litigation expenses
• A Service Award of up to $7,500 to Colin Petrus
• Court-approved administration expenses

How payment is calculated

The notice says each approved claim is calculated by dividing the Net Settlement Funds by the total number of addresses for which claims have been submitted.

Illustration only: If the net fund were $400,000 and 2,000 addresses had approved claims, each address would receive $200. This is not an official estimate. The number of claims is unknown, so no one can predict the payment until the claim period ends.

Is it per person or per household?

Per address. The claim form provides for a household payment (with spouse or roommate information), so you should not assume every adult in the home gets a separate check.

Do You Need to File a Claim Form?

Yes. This is not an automatic-payment settlement. If you miss the deadline, the notice says you will not get paid, and that sending a claim late is the same as doing nothing.

What you need to claim

Per the official claim form and settlement website, expect to provide:

1. A copy of a government-issued photo ID (do not send originals)
2. Proof you owned or occupied the claimed address, such as a deed or ownership record (owners), a lease or rental agreement (renters), or a utility bill or similar document
3. The dates you owned or occupied the property
4. Your signature under oath (and spouse or roommate information and signature if required by the form)

If your photo ID shows a different address than the claimed property, expect to need extra proof that you lived at the claimed address. Follow the instructions printed on the official claim form. Missing or incomplete documents can lead to rejection.

How to file

• Online: Use the claim form on the official settlement page: lsclassaction.com/settlements/koppers-facility
• By mail: Download the official PDF Claim Form, complete, sign and date it, keep a copy, and mail it with your documents, postmarked on or before December 7, 2026, to:

Attn: Koppers Inc. Claim Liddle Sheets P.C. 975 E. Jefferson Ave. Detroit, MI 48207

(Use the exact mailing address printed on your claim form if it differs.) There is no fee to file a claim.

Important Warning on Medical Injuries: Read Before You Sign

The notice says the release does not bar claims for medically diagnosed personal injuries. However, the claim form requires you to certify under penalty of perjury that you have not been diagnosed with a sickness, disease or physical injury caused by Koppers and have not received Medicare or other government benefits for such a condition.

This settlement is about odors and interference with property. It does not provide a compensation process for illness. Do not sign a certification that is untrue. If you or a family member has a diagnosed condition you believe is related to the facility, talk to a licensed attorney about the certification and your rights before you file, and ask about deadlines. Personal-injury claims in Illinois generally carry a short limitation period (commonly two years, 735 ILCS 5/13-202, subject to exceptions such as the discovery rule), so waiting can be costly.

Your Four Options (and Their Consequences)

Option	Money?	Bound by release?	Deadline
Submit a claim	Yes, if valid and approved	Yes	Dec. 7, 2026
Opt out	No	No. You keep the right to sue on your own	Nov. 21, 2026
Object / comment	Only if you also claim	Yes	Nov. 21, 2026
Do nothing	No	Yes	None

Can You Opt Out?

Yes, by November 21, 2026 (postmark). If you opt out, you get no money, Class Counsel will not represent you, and the notice warns that statutes of limitations may bar an individual lawsuit.

To opt out, mail a letter by First Class U.S. mail that contains this exact statement:

“I WISH TO BE EXCLUDED FROM THE COLIN PETRUS V. KOPPERS INC., SETTLEMENT. I UNDERSTAND BY EXCLUDING MYSELF, I WILL NOT RECEIVE ANY MONEY FROM THE SETTLEMENT REACHED IN THIS MATTER.”

Include your full name, the address of your Class Area property, your signature and the date, and mail it to:

Class Counsel Colin Petrus v. Koppers Inc. c/o Liddle Sheets P.C. 975 E. Jefferson Ave. Detroit, MI 48207

You cannot opt out by phone or email. If you opt out, you also cannot object.

Can You Object?

Yes, if you stay in the class. Objecting is telling the court what you dislike. Opting out is leaving the class. You cannot do both.

Your written comment or objection must be postmarked by November 21, 2026 and sent to Class Counsel (not the court clerk) at the Detroit address above. It must include:

• Your legal name, current address, current phone number and signature
• The address of your Class Area property and the period you owned or occupied it
• The reference “Colin Petrus v. Koppers Inc., Case No. 1:24-cv-06872”
• A detailed statement of your objections and any supporting documents
• (Optional) Documents proving you are a class member

The notice says a timely objection that establishes class membership will be considered by the court even if you do not attend the hearing. If you miss the deadline or procedure, you waive the right to be heard at the hearing.

Can You Speak at the Hearing?

Yes. Add to your letter a statement that you intend to appear and speak, for example: “This is my Notice of Intention to speak at the Settlement Fairness and Final Approval Hearing in Petrus v. Koppers Inc.” If you will appear through a lawyer, your letter must identify the attorneys. You cannot speak if you opt out.

What Happens If You Do Nothing?

You receive no money, and if the settlement becomes final you lose the right to sue Koppers and its affiliates over any impact of odors or emissions from the facility on public or private property within one mile from August 6, 2019 through the Effective Date. Medically diagnosed personal-injury claims are the exception.

What Claims Are Released?

If you do not opt out, you release Koppers and its affiliates from all claims, known or unknown, arising from or related to any impact of odors or emissions from the facility on public or private property within one mile from August 6, 2019 through the Effective Date of the Settlement Agreement. The notice also says class members waive protections similar to California Civil Code § 1542, which ordinarily preserves claims the releasing party did not know about when signing a general release.

• Not released: claims for medically diagnosed personal injuries, and suits based on conduct occurring after the Effective Date.
• Released: future damages arising from conduct on or before the Effective Date.

The full definition is in Section 2(q) of the Settlement Agreement on the settlement website. Read it before deciding.

When Is the Final Approval Hearing?

Detail	Information
Date	January 19, 2027
Time	11:00 a.m. Chicago time (12:00 p.m. Eastern Time)
Place	U.S. District Court, N.D. Illinois, Eastern Division, 219 South Dearborn Street, Chicago, IL 60604
Judge	Jorge L. Alonso

The court may hold the hearing by telephone or video, in which case instructions will be posted on the court docket and the settlement website. You do not have to attend; Class Counsel will answer the court’s questions.

At the hearing the judge decides whether the settlement is fair, reasonable and adequate, and decides attorneys’ fees, expenses and the plaintiff’s service award.

When Will Payments Be Sent?

There is no confirmed date. The court must approve the settlement first. After approval, Class Counsel begins reviewing claim forms, and an appeal could cause further delay.

How long do you have to cash a check?

According to the claim form, checks must be cashed within 180 days of the date on the check. If a household does not cash its check in time, everyone in that household forfeits the payment.

Keep your address current

Former residents who move should update their mailing address with Class Counsel.

Who Is Handling Claims and Questions?

Liddle Sheets P.C. is Class Counsel and handles claims.

• Toll-free: 1-800-536-0045
• Additional phone listed on the website: 313-392-0015
• Email: [email protected]
• Mail: Class Counsel, Colin Petrus v. Koppers Inc., c/o Liddle Sheets P.C., 975 E. Jefferson Ave., Detroit, MI 48207
• Website: lsclassaction.com/settlements/koppers-facility

Do not call or write to Koppers or the Clerk of the Court with questions. The notice says neither will answer them.

Is the Koppers Settlement Legitimate?

Yes. A court authorized the notice, and it is not a solicitation from a lawyer. There is no fee to file a claim. Be cautious of anyone who asks you to pay to “unlock” a payment or asks for unrelated sensitive data. Use only the official website and contacts above.

Official Resources

• Official Koppers Settlement Page and Online Claim Form
• Notice of Proposed Class Action Settlement (PDF)
• Official Claim Form (PDF)
• Federal Court’s June 23, 2025 Motion-to-Dismiss Opinion
• Illinois EPA: Koppers Facility Information
• Illinois Attorney General’s Announcement of Separate Lawsuit

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is the Koppers $625,000 settlement real?

Yes. It is documented in the official notice for Colin Petrus v. Koppers Inc., No. 1:24-cv-06872 (N.D. Ill.). It has preliminary approval; final approval is pending.

2. Who qualifies?

Owners and occupants (including renters) of residential property within one mile of 3900 S. Laramie Ave., Cicero, IL, at any time between August 6, 2019 and September 22, 2026.

3. Do former residents qualify?

Yes, if they lived in or owned a home in the area during the class period.

4. Do renters qualify?

Yes. A lease or other occupancy proof may be required.

5. Do I have to file a claim?

Yes. A valid claim form is the only way to get a payment.

6. What is the claim deadline?

December 7, 2026 (postmark).

7. How much will I get?

Unknown. The net fund is divided by the number of addresses with approved claims.

8. Does each adult in my home get a check?

No. Payment is per address and sent to the household.

9. What proof do I need?

Per the claim form: photo ID plus proof of ownership or occupancy (deed, lease, utility bill or similar) and your dates of residence.

10. What if I no longer have my lease?

Call Class Counsel at 1-800-536-0045 to ask what other documents are accepted. Do not assume a claim will be approved without required evidence.

11. What is the opt-out deadline?

November 21, 2026 (postmark), by First Class mail with the exact required statement. Phone and email requests do not count.

12. What is the objection deadline?

November 21, 2026 (postmark), sent to Class Counsel.

13. Can I sue Koppers after the settlement?

Not over released property-related odor and emissions claims if you stay in the class and the settlement becomes final. Medically diagnosed personal-injury claims are excluded.

14. Does this settlement cover cancer or other illness?

No. It is not a payment for illness. The release preserves diagnosed personal-injury claims, and the claim form has a certification about them. Get legal advice first.

15. If I opt out, can I still get money?

No.

16. If I do nothing, am I protected?

No. You get nothing and are still bound by the release.

17. When is the final approval hearing?

January 19, 2027, 11:00 a.m. Chicago time (12:00 p.m. Eastern), subject to change.

18. Did Koppers admit wrongdoing?

No. Koppers denies all fault and no court has found it liable.

19. Is the Attorney General’s lawsuit part of this?

No. It is a separate state enforcement case.

20. How long do I have to cash my check?

180 days from the check date, according to the claim form.

21. Do attorneys’ fees reduce my payment?

Yes. Court-approved fees, expenses and the service award are paid from the fund before the net amount is divided.

22. Who do I contact?

Liddle Sheets P.C. at 1-800-536-0045 or [email protected]. Not Koppers or the court.

Final Takeaway: What Nearby Residents Should Do Now

If you owned, rented or occupied a home within one mile of the Koppers facility in Cicero between August 6, 2019 and September 22, 2026:

1. Decide by November 21, 2026 whether to stay in the class, opt out, or object. Remember that doing nothing binds you to the release.
2. Submit a valid claim by December 7, 2026 if you want to be paid. Gather your photo ID and proof of ownership or occupancy now.
3. Read the medical-injury certification carefully, and speak with a lawyer if you have a diagnosed condition you link to the facility.
4. Keep your address current and cash any check within 180 days.

Payments depend on the number of approved addresses and will not be issued until the court approves the settlement and any appeals are resolved.

Official settlement page: lsclassaction.com/settlements/koppers-facility

Researched and written by Israr Ahmad, Legal Content Researcher, AllAboutLawyer.com. This article is for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. AllAboutLawyer.com is an independent legal-information website and is not a law firm, is not affiliated with Koppers Inc., the court, Class Counsel or any government agency, and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Settlement terms, deadlines and hearing details can change. The official notice, claim form, Settlement Agreement and court orders control eligibility, deadlines and payment procedures. If you have legal questions about your rights, including opting out or personal-injury claims, consult a licensed attorney.

Sources: Official Notice of Proposed Class Action Settlement and Claim Form (lsclassaction.com); Petrus v. Koppers Inc., No. 1:24-cv-06872 (N.D. Ill.), June 23, 2025 opinion; Illinois Attorney General press announcement (June 2026); Illinois EPA Koppers facility page; Koppers public disclosures; Illinois Environmental Protection Act, 415 ILCS 5; 735 ILCS 5/13-202 and 13-205; Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. § 7401 et seq.; Fed. R. Civ. P. 23.