Unprecedented $4 Billion Settlement Agreed in Maui Wildfire Lawsuit
An extraordinary $4 billion settlement has been achieved in the case regarding last year’s devastating wildfires in Maui, Hawaii. This legal success will administer compensation to all claimants affected by the natural disaster. The Hawaiin Governor has hailed the settlement as a significant step towards healing for the Maui community.
State of Hawaii, Hawaiian Electric Among Seven Defendants
Seven defendants will contribute to the noteworthy settlement figure of $4.037 billion. Participating parties include the state of Hawaii, County of Maui, Hawaiian Electric, Kamehameha Schools, West Maui Land Co., Hawaiian Telcom, and Spectrum/Charter Communications. Parties had participated in extensive negotiations over four months resulting in this settlement.
Governor Josh Green expressed his satisfaction with the agreement, “My priority as Governor was to expedite the agreement and to avoid protracted and painful lawsuits as many resources as possible would go to those affected by the wildfires as quickly as possible.”
In her statement, Shelee Kimura, president and CEO of Hawaiian Electric, reinforced the company’s commitment to avoid any future occurrence of such a tragedy. However, Spectrum declined to make any comments. More reactions from the other defendants are expected.
Compensation Won’t Fully Cover Devastation
The plaintiff’s attorneys have stressed that the large compensation amount does not cover the full extent of the devastation suffered by the people of Maui. The loss extended beyond just homes and included businesses, places of worship and other community building blocks. The fight continues against insurance companies, who the attorneys argue should not profit until full compensation is achieved for victims.
Jacob Lowenthal, another plaintiff attorney, acknowledged the insufficiency of the settlement to make the community whole but emphasized its importance in a press statement: “This money is the first step of many to allow our home to heal”, he said.
Effects of the Wildfires
Unfolding from August 8 last year, the Maui wildfires were labeled “the largest natural disaster ever experienced” by Hawaiian officials. The disaster consumed over 2,000 acres in Lahaina and devastated hundreds of acres in Kula and Olinda, on the island of Maui. This resulted in the destruction of homes, businesses, and infrastructure, and the subsequent loss of tourism may have led to up to $6 billion in economic losses. Most distressingly, over 100 lives were lost in the disaster, marking it as the deadliest wildfire in the United States in over a century.
The settlement is yet to be approved by the court, and the distribution of funds to affected parties will commence post court approval.
