SAN DIEGO — August 8 marks one year since the horrific Maui wildfires killed more than 100 people and damaged thousands of businesses and homes.
One year later, a 4 billion settlement has been reached between the victims and Hawaiian Electric, Spectrum Oceanic, Bishop Land and state and county agencies.
San Diego-based attorney, James Patrick Frantz, is the co-counsel representing the victims in the Maui fires and their families. He blames Hawaiian Electric, and others and is demanding safety changes be made change to keep this from happening again.
“We lost 102 souls in this fire. Should never have happened,” said Frantz.
Thousands of businesses and homes were destroyed causing $5.5 billion in damages.
After four months of mediation, all parties agreed on a settlement. Frantz says there are some hiccups in keeping the insurance companies from receiving any money in the settlement.
Frantz has been an attorney for 50 years; he fought SDG&E and PG&E and held them accountable in previous devastating wildfires. He says this is one of the worst cases of conscience disregard for safety.
“Hawaiian Electric was asleep at the wheel, they didn't care enough to take care of their business so that we had all these people killed and loss of the town. Three thousand structures and homes are gone,” said Frantz.
Frantz says Hawaiian Electric, and others ignored the warning signs to clear the brush and maintain it. He also says, the poles were hollow which caused them to snap like match sticks. There was a red flag warning, yet power was not de-energized and he adds there were countless violations.
Frantz wants Hawaiian Electric and others to be punished and is demanding safety changes including building utilities underground and justice for victims.
“This is a terrible, terrible situation. The misconduct of the defendants is reprehensible. It's despicable and it's subject to punitive damages,” said Frantz.
Frantz says there are 800 victims involved in the lawsuit and 12 families who lost loved ones.
Hawaiian Electric posted a news release on its website. It says, "Under the proposed terms, which remain subject to final documentation and court approval and do not include any admission of liability, the defendants would collectively pay over $4 billion to resolve all tort claims arising from the Aug. 8, 2023 windstorms and wildfires on Maui."
Hawaiian Electric's President and CEO added this will help heal across all parties and communities and help aid in rebuilding the area.
“Our objective is to make sure a tragedy like this never happens again and we mahalo many partners who are working with us shoulder to shoulder to ensure Hawaii’s communities are safe and resilient,” said Shellee Kimura, president and CEO of Hawaiian Electric.
The next hearing is on August 13 in Maui 2nd District Court.
No one or entity has been criminally charged.
The Hawaii attorney general is undergoing and independent investigation to review the decisions that were made and policies that were in place before, during and after the Maui fires.
Hawaiian Electric says victims could get receive their money no earlier than mid-2025. State legislators rejected Hawaiian Electric’s plan to sell assets and obtain a $250 million line of credit, but the Public Utilities Commission approved it.
This allows the power company to use money owed by customers to improve its financial stability, which could be generated through fees tacked on to utility bills.
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