Since August 8, 2023, when fires ripped across Maui, damaging the upcountry areas of Kula and Olinda and destroying the historic town of Lahaina, our attorneys have been working to bring justice to those whose lives were lost or destroyed by negligence from utility companies, telecommunications companies, landowners, and public entities. The entire Maui community has been deeply affected by this tragedy, and it will take years to rebuild the areas of the island that were most damaged. Healing the land and the community will take combined effort and funds from responsible parties to fund the rehabilitation of the land and rebuilding of the communities.
Working with Maui Attorneys
In partnership with Lowenthal & Lowenthal, LLC, a well-established Kahului personal injury firm, our attorneys are working to help the people affected by wrongful death, personal injury, business or property loss, and other claims from the fires in Lahaina, Kula, and Olinda. For over 40 years, Jacob Lowenthal’s team has been litigating personal injury claims for the Maui community Joined by the Arias Sanguinetti team led by Mike Arias, a part-time Maui resident, we have formed an unstoppable team to litigate our clients’ fire cases and advocate on behalf of fire victims in the Hawaiian legislature.
If you are considering litigation as an option to help you rebuild your life on Maui, contact our firm today to speak with one of our experienced attorneys. We will guide you through the current state of the cases and inform you of your options.
Who is Responsible for the Maui Fires?
Multiple parties in the Maui Fire cases will be held accountable for their negligence. Some of the defendants who have been named in lawsuits include utility companies, telecom companies, landowner defendants, and public entities.
Utility Company Defendants:
- Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc.
- Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc.
- Hawai’i Electric Light Company, Inc.
- Maui Electric Company Limited
Telecommunications Company Defendants:
- Spectrum Oceanic, LLC.
- Cincinnati Bell, Inc.
- Hawaiian Telecom, Inc.
Landowner Defendants:
- The Trustees of The Bishop Estate
- Hawai’i Housing Finance and Development Corporation
Public Entity Defendants:
- The County of Maui
- The State of Hawai’i
Each plaintiff in this case has the option to bring a lawsuit against any and all of the listed defendants, or you may choose not to pursue an action against any of the defendants, although that may decrease the amount of recovery that you receive.
All the responsible parties must be held accountable for their negligence to obtain compensation for fire victims and avoid future tragedies.
What Is the One ‘Ohana Fund?
On November 8, 2023, Hawaii Governor Joshua Green announced the formation of a fund to distribute money to families of victims who died in the fires and to individuals who suffered serious personal injury. This fund – known as the One ‘Ohana Fund – will provide payments for families equal to approximately 1.5 million dollars per death, as well as other monetary amount for serious personal injury claims.
Those who wish to participate in the fund must complete the registration form on the One ‘Ohana fund website by May 31, 2024. Filling out the registration form does not prohibit you from participating in litigation, but accepting the payout from the fund releases any defendants from possible litigation.
If you are interested in legal guidance regarding fund participation, don’t hesitate to contact our team today.
