Detroit-area steel mill settles class-action suit

DETROIT (AP) - U.S. Steel Corp. has settled a $4.4 million class-action lawsuit with about 7,000 residents in two of Detroit's downriver suburbs.

U.S. District Court Judge Avern Cohn approved the settlement Thursday with Ecorse and River Rouge residents. They have complained the Pittsburgh-based company's Ecorse plant has released orange smoke and metallic particles into their neighborhoods.

The settlement says residents will receive $300 apiece and attorneys Jason Thompson and Peter Macuga jointly will get $1.5 million.

Thompson tells The Detroit News the settlement doesn't release U.S. Steel from all future claims, despite some residents' complaints it doesn't go far enough.

U.S. Steel spokesman John Armstrong said the company was pleased to resolve the case.