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However, a judge's ruling notes that attorneys have "no real expectation" that the plaintiffs will ever receive payment, as the company is insolvent.

Four people who sued J.H. Baxter & Co. over claims of environmental harm have entered into a court-approved settlement to receive a total of $200,000, though it’s unclear if they’ll receive any payout.

The 2021 lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Eugene, alleged a diminished value for properties near J.H. Baxter’s manufacturing facility on Roosevelt Boulevard in west Eugene, among other claims.

For nearly eight decades, the company treated wood products such as utility poles with toxic chemicals designed to help the wood resist decay, but which are known to persist in the environment, contaminating soil and groundwater. In its production process, J.H. Baxter contaminated residential yards, according to environment regulators, who also found the facility boiled off contaminated water, emitting chemicals into the air.

The consent judgment, filed Friday, Feb. 13, ends a winding civil claims process. A federal judge in 2023 granted class certification, meaning that all who lived within certain boundaries could potentially receive compensation.

But financial records showed the J.H. Baxter companies to be insolvent, meaning they lacked sufficient funding to pay out claims to the full class of people with claims. The insolvency is part of the reason why J.H. Baxter became a Superfund site.

On Jan. 29, U.S. District Judge Ann Aiken decertified the class, citing court filings made on behalf of people suing J.H. Baxter.

Attorneys for the four individuals stated that even with the $200,000 settlement amount “there is no real expectation” that the judgment will ever be collected, according to Aiken’s ruling.

Aiken’s opinion also cited attorneys for the plaintiff in stating that any payout would go toward a “nominal payment” to the individuals and “outstanding reimbursable expenses” for the attorneys who took on the case.

The consent judgment states that the four individuals suing — Tiffany Bell-Alanis, Sharon Matthews, Erin Neel and Sarah Pederson — as well as J.H. Baxter “agree to the entry of this Judgment without trial or final adjudication of any issue of fact or law and waive any right to appeal.”

Jonathan Nace, an attorney representing the four people suing J.H. Baxter, declined to comment Tuesday. Attorneys for J.H. Baxter did not respond to an email sent Tuesday requesting comment.

A separate lawsuit against J.H. Baxter that once had class status has also been decertified and remains pending.

Staff writer Ashli Blow contributed to this report.