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A county judge has given final approval to a $1 billion settlement for the victims of the collapse of a Florida condo building last year, ending a monthslong legal battle that sought to remedy one of the deadliest structural failures in U.S. history.
The decision by Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Michael Hanzman came a day before the one-year anniversary of the collapse of the Champlain Towers South condo building in Surfside, which left 98 people dead and several more injured. Lawyers reached the $1.02 billion settlement last month, and Hanzman approved the deal on Thursday, commending attorneys for ending what could’ve been a yearslong battle with no definite outcome.
JUDGE ALLOWS $1 BILLION FLORIDA CONDO COLLAPSE SETTLEMENT TO MOVE FORWARD
“It will never be enough to compensate them for the tragic loss they have suffered,” Hanzman said. ”This settlement is the best we can do. It’s a remarkable result. It is extraordinary.”
The settlement will go toward the families of those who died in the collapse, with about $100 million being set aside for legal fees and $96 million going to those who owned property that was destroyed. The settlement money will come from multiple sources, including insurance companies, engineering firms, and a condo building being constructed nearby that may have contributed to the collapse.
None of the parties paying for the settlement has admitted wrongdoing.
No victims present for the judge’s ruling objected to the settlement, and hearings for families to request claims are expected to begin in August.
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“You have no idea what a relief this is to me personally,” said Raysa Rodriguez, who lived on the ninth floor of the building and survived the collapse, after the decision was made. “I am so exhausted. I just want this to be done. I want these souls to rest.”
It’s still unknown what caused the collapse of the building, which had a long history of ignoring maintenance problems and structural concerns. A conclusion from an investigation into the collapse may not be determined for years.
