By Walter F. Roche Jr.
Some $11.5 million in final benefits to hundreds of victims of the 2012 fungal meningitis outbreak will probably be delayed until summer, according to the attorney overseeing the funds set aside for those victims.
Lynne Riley wrote in an email response to questions that administrative details will prevent the funds from being distributed in March as many had hoped.
"We will need a few months to organize the final payments to tort claimants to ensure the final distribution is correct and complete, since this will be the final payment," Riley wrote.
"If it can be done sooner, it will," Riley added, "but this is our current estimation."
The funds in question represent a portion of the tax refunds that were made to owners of the New England Compounding Center, the company blamed for the 2012 outbreak. Those owners agreed to give up the money as part of a court settlement.
Distribution of the money was delayed because the IRS could still dispute the refunds. They have been held in escrow until the appeal deadline passes.
Another $425,000 has been released from escrow and has been forwarded to Riley.
The $11 million is in addition to the nearly $100 million already distributed to some 2,027 victims.
Other payments totaling $48.8 million have gone to outbreak victims who were injected with tainted methylprednisolone acetate at three clinics, Inspira Health of New Jersey, Insight Imaging of Virginia and the High Point Surgery Center in North Carolina.
Still other payments to victims came from a settlement with the St. Thomas Outpatient Neurosurgical Center in Nashville. The exact amount of that settlement, estimated at more than $20 million, has never been made public.
Contact: wfrochejr999@gmail.com
Our health means nothing to the perpetrators. We have still no justice. Even if the perps get more prison time with the trial in Michigan, we Victims have a lifetime of pain and suffering. They should get life in prison for their participation in these crimes against humanity.
ReplyDeleteI agree 100% with #foreverhurt! I have pain and cognitive issues that I have to deal with everyday for the rest of my life! The little help that I received in legal action is minimal, when you consider the financial gains that the Lawyers, Court systems, Arbitrators , Government Administrators have gained in this litigation! Meanwhile the physical and mental issues I struggle with are a constant aggravation. I will have to keep up the daily exercise, regular physical therapy , Mental exercise and therapy for the rest of my life to maintain what little health I have left! All of which will have to be paid out of pocket. I cannot imagine what people in worse shape than me are going handle their current situation. May God comfort and heal them because New England Compounding Center and judicial system could care less!
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