In a landmark development, Governor Josh Green, MD, announced last night that the history of $ 4 billion debt has been reached to resolve all tort claims arising from the catastrophic wildfires that destroyed Maui last year.
The devastating fire on August 8, 2023, has been directly linked to the failure of the country’s main utility provider during a critical wind storm.
At first, Hawaii State Attorney Anne E. Lopez decided to withhold preliminary findings from the public about the massive Maui wildfires that had taken place.
This move is supposed to “protect the integrity” of the ongoing investigation, according to a statement from the Attorney General’s Department. The decision raised concerns about the transparency of the investigation, as local residents questioned whether this “independent investigation” would remain impartial.
As the investigation revealed, the deadly wildfires were triggered by downed power lines, a finding that immediately challenged the Democratic narrative linking such disasters to climate change.
The Associated Press reported that people in Maui who drove around road barricades blocking the paved road from Lahaina during the fire earlier this month survived, while those who did were killed in their cars or ran into the nearby ocean.
Maui County government quickly responded by filing a lawsuit against the Hawaii Electric Company and its subsidiaries, alleging negligence for failing to turn off electrical equipment during dangerous weather conditions.
The proposed settlement, which remains subject to final documentation and court approval, includes seven defendants: the state of Hawai’i, the County of Maui, Hawaiian Electric, Kamehameha Schools, West Maui Land Co., Hawaiian Telcom, and Spectrum/Charter Communications.
They jointly agreed to pay more than $4 billion to compensate some 2,200 affected parties who filed lawsuits after the August 2023 wildfires.
Read the press release below:
Today, Governor Josh Green, MD, announced a historic settlement to resolve all tort claims arising from the Maui wildfires. Less than a year after the wildfires in Maui, seven defendants – the state of Hawai’i, the County of Maui, Hawaiian Electric, Kamehameha Schools, West Maui Land Co., Hawaiian Telcom and Spectrum/Charter Communications – are making significant efforts to find a resolution that address the needs and ensure the welfare of the plaintiff, all affected individuals, and their families.
According to the proposed terms of the global settlement agreement, which remains subject to final documentation and court approval, the seven defendants will pay $4.037 billion to compensate all those who have brought claims for compensation arising from the storm and forest fires 8 August 2023. in Maui, including approximately 2,200 affected parties who filed lawsuits. The state of Hawaiʻi will contribute to the settlement in addition to its $65 million contribution to the One ʻOhana Fund.
Governor Green emphasized the complexity and considerable consideration in the negotiations, stating, “This Global Settlement of more than $4 billion will help our people heal. My priority as Governor is to speed up the agreement and avoid the ongoing and painful lawsuits that would cost so many resources what can be done for those affected by the forest fires so quickly. Completing such a thing in a year is unprecedented, and it is good that our people do not have to wait to rebuild their lives, like many others -many places experienced similar tragedies.
A settlement agreement was reached after more than four months of mediation. Civil cases involving deadly and destructive wildfires in other states typically take years to go to trial, according to lawyers familiar with wildfire litigation. The settlement resolves approximately 450 lawsuits filed by individuals, businesses, and insurance companies in state and federal courts for fires in Lahaina and Upcountry Maui.
“I want to acknowledge the work of our expert mediators and respect each party in the settlement for prioritizing the recovery and healing of Hawai’i above personal or other interests. In the coming weeks, we will provide a detailed account of the amount and cost and when resources will be available for survivors and their families. Overall, the total scope of recovery, which includes past insurance claims, county, federal and state support, will approach $12 billion,” said Governor Green.
Now, the proposed settlement is an agreement in principle. The agreement stipulates the resolution of the insurance company’s claims for property loss and other damages, without additional payments from the defendants.
Once the final settlement agreement is signed, it will take effect after court review and approval. Contributions to the settlement from the state of Hawaii must be approved by the Hawaiʻi State Legislature. The payments will begin after approval and are expected to begin in mid-2025.
“This is an extraordinary and unprecedented effort by so many people to deal with the tragic impact of wildfires in less than a year,” Governor Green said. “Resolving this quickly shows how different Hawai’i is, how we come together in times of crisis to heal together as a community.”
