Judge caps attorneys’ legal fees in Maui wildfire settlement
FILE - In an aerial view, a recovery vehicle drives past burned structures and cars two months after a devastating wildfire on Oct. 09, 2023 in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
A judge has capped the legal fees for the survivors of the deadly 2023 Hawaii wildfire that destroyed much of Lahaina.
By the numbers:
The initial legal fees related to the wildfire settlement amounted to $4.03 billion and victims' lawyers were seeking $1 billion in payment.
RELATED: Pictures of Maui fire damage 'will shock you,' Hawaii governor says
Hawaii Circuit Judge Peter Cahill significantly reined in that fee to $222 million, which the lawyers would divide among themselves.
What they're saying:
"I feel like Judge Cahill has been guided by fairness to the community from the outset of the litigation," Jesse Creed, one of the lead lawyers involved in the litigation, said. "I see this as a matter of sacrifice for the community."
RELATED: 4 family members die in Hawaii wildfire: ‘It’s like a gut punch’
Watch: Aerial footage shows scope of devastating destruction after wildfire in Kula, Hawaii
The Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources released aerial footage above Kula, Hawaii, that shows the scope of devastation after wildfires raged across Maui.
2023 Hawaii wildfire
The backstory:
The August 2023 wildfire killed 102 residents.
Investigations ultimately determined that the fire was sparked by a fallen Hawaiian Electric Co. power line that ignited dry grass, setting off a massive blaze that spread through Lahaina.
That resulted in thousands of legal claims, primarily against HECO but also against landowners accused of inadvertently enabling the fire’s spread by letting invasive grasses, a known fire hazard, grow out of control.
The Source: Information for this article was taken from The Associated Press and previous reporting by FOX Local. This story was reported from San Jose.