Victims receive settlements from 2008 Fernley flood

FERNLEY -- About 600 victims of a flood caused by the failure of a century-old irrigation canal in Fernley in 2008 have received their share of a $10 million settlement.

The settlement funds distributed last month stemmed from class action lawsuits against the city of Fernley, Lyon County and the Truckee-Carson Irrigation District board.

Under the settlement, Fernley paid $5 million and Lyon County $1.3 million, while insurance companies paid $3.8 million on behalf of seven irrigation district board members, the Reno Gazette-Journal reported.

The Jan. 5, 2008, breach of the earthen Truckee Canal sent a wall of water into Fernley, about 30 miles east of Reno, and inundated homes .

Attorney Robert Maddox, who represents the plaintiffs, said $6 million was divided among flood victims, an estimated $3.3 million went to attorney fees, and $700,000 covered expert witness fees and other costs.