Fishermen reach $3.6M settlement over oil spill

San Fransico Chronicle -

Commercial fishermen have reached a $3.6 million tentative settlement with the owner and operator of a cargo ship that caused a massive oil spill in San Francisco Bay, an attorney for the fishermen announced.

Hong Kong-based firms Fleet Management Ltd. and Regal Stone Ltd. agreed to the settlement to be split among about 120 fishermen affected by the November 2007 spill, according to plaintiffs attorney Stuart Gross.

The deal is pending approval by a San Francisco Superior Court judge, and a separate judgment is being requested for attorney's fees.

"They fought us hard but ultimately came to the table and agreed to a very fair and adequate settlement," Gross said Wednesday.

Joe Walsh, an attorney representing Fleet Management and Regal Stone in the case, did not immediately return a call for comment Wednesday.

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