[KARAH RUCKER]
IT’S BEEN NEARLY A YEAR SINCE WILDFIRES IN MAUI DEVASTATED PART OF THE ISLAND.
MORE THAN 100 PEOPLE WERE UNABLE TO ESCAPE THE FLAMES – KILLED IN HAWAII’S WORST NATURAL DISASTER ON RECORD.
MORE THAN TWO THOUSAND STRUCTURES WERE DESTROYED IN THE WILDFIRES CAUSED BY DROUGHT CONDITIONS, HIGH WINDS, AND DOWNED POWER LINES.
THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS SUED THE ISLAND’S UTILITY PROVIDER –
“HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC.”
AND A PROPOSED SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT –
WOULD HAVE HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC ALONG WITH OTHER COMPANIES –
PAY OUT A TOTAL OF 4 BILLION DOLLARS TO SETTLE UP WITH IMPACTED FAMILIES.
WHILE THAT DEAL STILL NEEDS FINAL APPROVAL –
SOME RESIDENTS AREN’T VERY HAPPY ABOUT IT.
THAT’S BECAUSE INSURANCE COMPANIES WANT HALF OF THE SETTLEMENT FUND AS “REIMBURSEMENTS” OF ALL THE CLAIMS THEY HAD TO PAY OUT IN THE FIRE’S AFTERMATH.
THOSE RESIDENTS ARE NOW SUING MAJOR INSURANCE COMPANIES LIKE ALLSTATE AND STATE FARM – FOR WHAT THEY SAY IS “IMPROPERLY SEEKING 2 BILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF REIMBURSEMENT BEFORE THEIR CUSTOMERS’ LOSSES ARE COVERED.”
THE LAWSUIT AGAINST THE INSURANCE COMPANIES STATES –
“This action arises out of the greed of Hawaii’s insurance industry to put their own selfish profits ahead of the suffering of the people of Maui who are the true victims of the Maui fires.”
AS OF TUESDAY MORNING –
THERE HASN’T BEEN COMMENT FROM THE INSURERS NAMED IN THE SUIT.
THE CASE WAS BROUGHT BY A HANDFUL OF HOMEOWNERS WHO LOST THEIR HOMES – AND FAMILY MEMBERS – TO THE HISTORIC WILDFIRES.
AS FOR THE 4 BILLION DOLLAR SETTLEMENT –
THAT’S NOT EVEN A CONCRETE DEAL **YET.
WHILE IT WAS THE CONSENSUS OUT OF COURT-ORDERED MEDIATION SESSIONS –
THE JUDGE HAS NOT YET SIGNED OFF ON THE PROPOSAL.