Hawaii: Maui Wildfire Lawsuits Settled For Over $4 Billion
by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent
(Worthy News) – Hawaiian Electric Industries and six other defendants have agreed to pay over $4 billion to compensate plaintiffs affected by the wildfires that devastated Hawaii’s island of Maui one year ago, the Associated Press reports.
Breaking out on August 8, 2023, the fires claimed the lives of 102 people; US President Joe Biden issued a federal major disaster declaration on August 10, 2023.
Hawaiian Electric and co-defendants including county officials faced a flurry of lawsuits in the wake of widespread destruction estimated at $5 billion, AP reports.
In a statement about the settlement reached on July, 26 Hawaii Governor Josh Green said $4.037 billion would be paid out on claims for damages that have already been filed. “My priority as governor was to expedite the agreement and to avoid protracted and painful lawsuits so as many resources as possible would go to those affected by the wildfires as quickly as possible,” Green said.
“It will be good that our people don’t have to wait to rebuild their lives as long as others have in many places that have suffered similar tragedies,” Green added.
Payments are expected to be made from the middle of next year, following judicial approval Hawaiian Electric said in a statement.