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Supreme Court makes decision on Maui wildfire settlement
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- On: 02/10/2025 15:51:47
- In: Latest News
In a remarkably quick ruling, the Hawaii Supreme Court has unanimously ruled that the $4 billion settlement of the Maui wildfire can not be blocked by insurance companies.
The ruling means that the Maui circuit court can begin the process of finalizing individual payments to survivors and families of those who died.The Hawaii Supreme Court heard a $4 billion argument Thursday over the Maui wildfire lawsuits.
The court faced a decision that could kill the so-called “global” settlement between victims, Hawaii Electric, the state, Kamehameha Schools and other entities.
The unusual arguments pitted supporters of the settlement, including those responsible for the damage, against the insurance industry.
The key issue was whether insurance companies should have been included in the settlement for the $3 billion they say they are paying out in property damage claims.
Insurance industry attorney Adam Romney pointed out that the industry has already paid out more than the $1.9 billion Hawaiian Electric has committed to the settlement.
“We will have to pay more than the people who actually caused the damage and that is fundamentally inequitable,” he said.
“Ultimately we didn't start the fire. We're the people who start paying moneys immediately when the claims start coming in.”
Before the settlement, the insurers filed their own lawsuit against many of the same defendants.
https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2025/02/10/supreme-court-makes-unanimous-decision-4-billion-maui-wildfire-settlement/
By HNN (Hawaii News Now) Staff
Feb. 10, 2025