A judge approved a $۱۰۶m settlement on Thursday that ends a years-long legal battle over the deadly ۲۰۱۹ collapse of a Hard Rock Hotel that was under construction in New Orleans.
The ۱۸-story hotel project partially collapsed in October ۲۰۱۹ , killing three people and damaging nearby property. A grand jury ultimately decided against indicting anyone in the deadly collapse, but lawsuits were filed, including one brought by the city of New Orleans in August ۲۰۲۰ naming the building owners, their partners and contractors.
The various lawsuits were consolidated into one case that includes a total of ۴۹۰ plaintiffs, including injured workers and businesses affected by the collapse, against ۲۱ defendants, according to Mark Glago, co-lead counsel for the plaintiffs. The case has been pending for more than six years, Glago noted.
The combined $۱۰۶m settlement was approved by Orleans parish civil district court judge Kern Reese on Thursday, according to Glago and Court records.
“This will be an honor to, you know, these claimants that have been through so much,” Glago said of the settlement. “We are very, very happy with this $۱۰۶m.”
The settlement funds will eventually be distributed by a special master.
