About this Site

This special compensation process is restricted and only for the benefit of survivors of the
I-35W bridge collapse that occurred on August 1, 2007. The law authorizing this compensation process defines an eligible survivor as a natural person who was present on the I-35W bridge at the time of the collapse. A survivor also includes family members who survive a person who perished in the collapse or the legally recognized representative of a survivor. Wherever the term "survivor" is used in this website, it has this statutory meaning.

July 28, 2008

The Special Master Panel welcomes you to the official website for the special compensation process for survivors of the I-35W bridge collapse. We have developed this site intending to conveniently provide eligible persons with accurate information, instructions and the forms needed to submit applications for compensation. We also hope that this site provides the public with information of interest concerning the special compensation process and the purpose of the appropriations approved by the Minnesota legislature during the 2008 legislative session.

Our thanks go out to those who consulted with the panel while we endeavored to create a fair and trustworthy process. Those persons include several lawyers representing survivors, representatives of the Minnesota Attorney General’s office, State Court Administration, and Minnesota Department of Finance, and authors of the legislation, Senator Ron Latz (DFL- St. Louis Park) and Representative Ryan Winkler (DFL – Golden Valley). The panel would also like to thank the Minnesota State Bar Association for its support of this website and assistance with the site design.

We ask that you bring to our attention any concerns or questions you may have about this website or the information contained in it.

Sincerely,

Susan M. Holden
Chair, Special Master Panel

Historical Notes

On May 8, 2008, Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty signed into law legislation which devoted $37 million to compensate survivors of the August 1, 2007, I-35W bridge collapse disaster. The law established a special master panel to consider claims, make settlement offers and enter settlement agreements with survivors. The Special Master Panel was appointed by Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice Russell Anderson on May 29, 2008.