Federal Judge Awards Family Over $680,000 Related to Fuel Tank Leaks

A federal judge has granted a family more than $680,000 after they expressed frustration over leaks from Hawaii’s Second World War-era fuel tanks.

This landmark case sets a precedent for around 7,500 military personnel, civilians, and service members who remain in limbo as they await the resolution of their claims.

US District Judge Leslie Kobayashi delivered the ruling on Wednesday, providing each plaintiff with awards ranging from $5,000 to over $104,000. In her order, Kobayashi noted that while contaminated water has caused various health issues among military families, there wasn’t enough evidence to establish a clear causal relationship.

The military constructed the Red Hill fuel tanks in the 1940s, strategically located on a hillside to protect against potential air strikes. This site, situated above Pearl Harbor, is also positioned over an aquifer that supplies drinking water to both the Navy and Honolulu’s water system.

In 2021, jet fuel leaked from broken pipes at military-operated tank farms, contaminating wells that serve residences and businesses within and around the expansive base. Approximately 6,000 individuals reported symptoms like nausea, headaches, and rashes.

The amounts awarded to the plaintiffs were significantly lower than the $225,000 to $1.25 million requested by their attorney, Christina Bear, during a two-week federal court trial in Honolulu.

Seventeen plaintiffs were chosen as representatives for the thousands of others whose cases are still pending.

While Baehr expressed disappointment with the damage award, the family felt a sense of triumph, stating they “won against all odds against the US government.”

“These families can take pride in showing the Navy that the poisoning of the water supply near Pearl Harbor was real and made many people sick,” Baehr said in a statement. “The court rejected the government’s assertion that the issues faced by thousands were simply psychological and that there wasn’t enough fuel to cause illness.”

Baehr mentioned that their legal team is exploring options for resolving the remaining cases.

Before the trial began, the government acknowledged its responsibility for the spill. However, the defense questioned whether the plaintiffs had been exposed to enough jet fuel to trigger vomiting, rashes, and other adverse health effects.