In December 2025, the city announced its intent to reach a settlement.

Final approval will come at a hearing on May 21.

The class action lawsuit was filed by several Benton Harbor residents in 2021, claiming local and state government officials failed to enforce the Safe Drinking Water Act when the public was actively uninformed of toxic levels of lead in their water.

The plaintiffs are seeking to receive a $25 million judgement from Benton Harbor's insurance company.

You can read the full preliminary approval document below: