TORONTO -- Sunrise Propane will pay out more than $23 million if a proposed settlement in a class-action lawsuit is approved in court.
In 2008, a propane explosion in north Toronto killed a man and forced thousands from their homes, and a firefighter who responded to the emergency died of a heart attack.
The proposed settlement would give almost $8 million to individuals to cover expenses such as personal injuries, lost income and uninsured losses.
Harvin Pitch of the firm Teplitsky Colson, which is one of several law firms representing the claimants, says another $8 million is designed to go to insurance companies.
Pitch says the rest of the settlement will cover fees and administrative costs.
Pitch adds that the 6,500 claimants see the settlement as a "reasonable compromise."
"A lot of this thing is emotional as to what they went through and they just want to know it's over," he said. "For many of these people, it was a traumatic, shock event."
The proposed settlement will be brought to an approval hearing on Aug. 7.
