Michigan settlement brings relief to COVID-exposed disaster cleanup workers.
A group of disaster-recovery workers in Michigan have secured a confidential settlement after alleging they were subjected to hazardous conditions while cleaning up flood damage in the state during the early stages of the pandemic. The lawsuit, filed on their behalf by the Sugar Law Center for Economic and Social Justice, accused several contractors and subcontractors, including SERVPRO Industries LLC, of failing to prioritize worker safety.
According to court documents, more than 100 workers were brought in from out-of-state to perform cleanup work at multiple sites, including a hospital and several private locations. The workers alleged they were crammed into hotel rooms with two people sharing a bed, transported in crowded vans, and required to attend daily briefings indoors without adequate social distancing measures.
The lawsuit claimed the defendants failed to implement essential COVID-19 safeguards, such as proper training, screening protocols, protective equipment, sanitation procedures, and response plans for confirmed infections. The workers who tested positive for COVID-19 allegedly faced inadequate guidance on isolation and quarantine procedures, leading some to contract severe illness, including hospitalizations requiring ventilator support.
The lawsuit's resolution has sent a clear message that worker safety must be prioritized during public health emergencies, according to John Philo, executive director of the Sugar Law Center. The settlement is seen as a major step forward for resilience workers who often find themselves in hazardous environments with limited ability to speak up.
"This outcome represents a major step forward for resilience workers," Philo said. "It affirms that companies responding to disasters must prioritize worker safety, especially during public health emergencies."
Saket Soni, executive director of Resilience Force, an organization representing the workers, emphasized the importance of protecting disaster-recovery workers in future emergencies. "We hope this outcome drives meaningful industry-wide change to protect disaster-recovery workers... This case was about upholding the right of all workers to health and safety at work, even during a pandemic," Soni said.
The named defendants include SERVPRO Industries LLC, BTN Services LLC, Favreau, Wallace, Rush, Schmidt, Inc., RDM Holding Co., and RACM, L.L.C. The terms of the settlement have not been disclosed.
A group of disaster-recovery workers in Michigan have secured a confidential settlement after alleging they were subjected to hazardous conditions while cleaning up flood damage in the state during the early stages of the pandemic. The lawsuit, filed on their behalf by the Sugar Law Center for Economic and Social Justice, accused several contractors and subcontractors, including SERVPRO Industries LLC, of failing to prioritize worker safety.
According to court documents, more than 100 workers were brought in from out-of-state to perform cleanup work at multiple sites, including a hospital and several private locations. The workers alleged they were crammed into hotel rooms with two people sharing a bed, transported in crowded vans, and required to attend daily briefings indoors without adequate social distancing measures.
The lawsuit claimed the defendants failed to implement essential COVID-19 safeguards, such as proper training, screening protocols, protective equipment, sanitation procedures, and response plans for confirmed infections. The workers who tested positive for COVID-19 allegedly faced inadequate guidance on isolation and quarantine procedures, leading some to contract severe illness, including hospitalizations requiring ventilator support.
The lawsuit's resolution has sent a clear message that worker safety must be prioritized during public health emergencies, according to John Philo, executive director of the Sugar Law Center. The settlement is seen as a major step forward for resilience workers who often find themselves in hazardous environments with limited ability to speak up.
"This outcome represents a major step forward for resilience workers," Philo said. "It affirms that companies responding to disasters must prioritize worker safety, especially during public health emergencies."
Saket Soni, executive director of Resilience Force, an organization representing the workers, emphasized the importance of protecting disaster-recovery workers in future emergencies. "We hope this outcome drives meaningful industry-wide change to protect disaster-recovery workers... This case was about upholding the right of all workers to health and safety at work, even during a pandemic," Soni said.
The named defendants include SERVPRO Industries LLC, BTN Services LLC, Favreau, Wallace, Rush, Schmidt, Inc., RDM Holding Co., and RACM, L.L.C. The terms of the settlement have not been disclosed.
And then they're stuck in crowded vans all day, just waiting for their shift to start? No wonder those workers got exposed to COVID-19 and ended up in the hospital. It's just so messed up that companies are more worried about profits than people's lives.
I mean, what's the point of having a "resilience" program if you're not going to protect your workers? It's just common sense, companies gotta prioritize safety above all else.
, I'm just glad that those poor cleanup workers got some relief 
. It's crazy to think about how they were treated during a pandemic 
. Cramped hotel rooms, crowded vans... it's like they were treated like disposable humans 
. And the lack of social distancing measures? Completely unacceptable 
. I mean, come on, companies should be prioritizing worker safety over profits 
. I hope this settlement sends a clear message that worker safety is not just a nice-to-have, it's a must-have during public health emergencies 
they totally deserved it, i mean can u imagine having to share a bed with some stranger and then be packed into these tiny vans all day? 
anyway, i'm glad that companies are finally being held accountable for putting their workers in harm's way. it's about time we prioritize people over profits 
This is a big deal for those who went through hell during the pandemic to clean up flood damage. I mean, can you imagine being stuck in cramped hotel rooms with strangers while trying to recover from COVID? It's insane that some companies didn't care about their workers' safety. 
But at least this settlement sends a message: worker safety matters, especially during emergencies. 
. I don't know how many more people have to get sick or worse before we start taking worker safety seriously 
. It's not just about disaster recovery workers; it's about all workers who deserve to come home safe at the end of their shift 
.