New Orleans Hard Rock Hotel collapse victims reach $106 million settlement
Emergency officials on the scene of a partial building collapse at the Hard Rock Hotel construction site in downtown New Orleans, Louisiana on October 12, 2019. (Credit: EMILY KASK/30238387A /AFP via Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS - A Louisiana judge has approved a $106 million settlement, bringing an end to a lengthy legal fight stemming from the deadly 2019 collapse of the Hard Rock Hotel construction project in New Orleans.
Judge approves settlement
Big picture view:
After more than six years of litigation, Orleans Parish Civil District Court Judge Kern Reese approved the settlement on Thursday, according to court records and plaintiffs' co-lead attorney Mark Glago.
Glago said the agreement represents an important milestone for those impacted by the collapse.
"This will be an honor to, you know, these claimants that have been through so much," Glago said of the settlement. "We are very, very happy with this $106 million."
Hard Rock Hotel collapse in New Orleans
The backstory:
The partial collapse of the 18-story building in October 2019 claimed the lives of three people, injured workers, and caused extensive damage to neighboring properties.
Although a grand jury later declined to bring criminal charges against anyone involved, multiple civil lawsuits were filed in the aftermath.
RELATED: New Orleans implodes damaged cranes on partially collapsed Hard Rock hotel
Among those lawsuits was one filed by the City of New Orleans in August 2020 against the project's owners, business partners and contractors. The claims were later consolidated into a single case involving 490 plaintiffs – including injured construction workers, nearby businesses, and others affected by the disaster – and 21 defendants.
What’s Next: The settlement money will be distributed to eligible claimants through a court-appointed special master at a later date.
The Source: This story was reported from Los Angeles. The Associated Press contributed.