By Yiming Fu, Report for America corps member
Hawaii Gov. Josh Green announced Friday defendants ranging from the state to Hawaiian Electric will pay $4.037 billion to compensate everyone who has brought claims from the August 8 wildfires last year.
The settlement resolves approximately 450 lawsuits filed by individuals, business, and insurance companies.
“In the coming weeks, we’ll provide a detailed account of the numbers and costs and when resources will become available to survivors and their families. Overall, the total scope of the recovery, which includes past insurance claims, county, federal and state support, will approach $12 billion,” Green said in a statement sent to AsAmNews.
The settlement agreement with the state of Hawai’i, County of Maui, Hawaiian Electric, Kamehameha Schools, West Maui Land Co., Hawaiian Telecom and Spectrum/Charter Communications was reached after more than four months of mediation.
It comes just days before the August 8th first anniversary of when the devastating fire broke out, killing 102, displacing many more and wiping out historic Lahaina.
“For a mass disaster this is highly unusual for how quickly there is a settlement,” said Maui attorney Lance Collins, one of the attorneys who filed lawsuits on behalf of the victims. Adjudications can take many years.
The current agreement is in principle, meaning it hinges on the resolution of insurance company claims that have already been paid for property loss and other damages, with no further payment from the defendants. Collins said it is disappointing that insurance companies will not be part of the settlement
This is a framework for settlement that will have to be approved by survivors. The final settlement still needs to be signed, and then it will take effect after judicial review and approval. Hawai’i’s state legislature must also approve their contribution to the settlement. Payments are expected to start by mid-2025.
(Yiming Fu is based in Maui and reports on the recovery from the Maui fires for AsAmNews)
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