Attorneys for Lahaina fire survivors who moved away seeking more clients
KITV – Island News
WAILUKU, Hawai’i (Island News) — Yet another legal battle is brewing over the Lahaina fire. And unlike the other complaints, the class action lawsuit focuses on survivors who moved away.
The goal of the legal action is to attain what is called “displacement damages,” such as moving costs.
“There are about 12,000 people who have basically been displaced from the Lahaina fire. I’d say maybe only 3,000 people are represented right now,” attorney Sam King said. “If people are not represented in some kind of lawsuit, they’re not going to get any compensation.”
The lawsuit began with about six plaintiffs, but attorneys are looking for more who were burdened with relocation expenses, as well as mental or emotional suffering.
King explained seeking more clients has been a challenge because they’re having to contact people who now live across the globe. One client resides in Slovakia.
Clients, King added, do not have to pay legal fees unless they are compensated.
“We realized there are a lot of people out there that have no idea they are entitled to displacement damages. But they’re worried they might have to pay a lawyer, which they don’t because it’s contingency fee. But they don’t even know, so we have to go find them,” King explained.
Because of new developments on the fire that emerged over the past few months, King said they’re amending their complaint, and plan to re-file in about a week.
When asked how much he predicts clients could get, King responded, “it could be very significant, tens of thousands of dollars, hundreds of thousands. It depends on each person’s kind of specific case.”
The lawsuit is being filed in federal court, which requires approval for the group of clients.
King said they plan to file a motion for the certification in about a month or two, and said it takes about the same amount of time to hear back from the court.
Island News reached out to the defendants listed, including Hawaiian Electric Company (HECO), which declined to comment.
Class Action Lawsuit Filed On Behalf of Displaced Lahaina Fire Residents
Displaced Homeowners and Renters May Obtain Compensation for Relocation Expenses, Hardship, Mental and Emotional Distress, and Lost Income
(HONOLULU) October 15, 2024– All Lahaina residents who lost their homes because of the devastating August 8, 2023, wildfire may be able to recover displacement damages, including relocation expenses, inconvenience, and mental or emotional suffering, such as anxiety and depression, and lost income through a Class Action Lawsuit filed by Honolulu attorneys Sam King, Jr. and Roy Y. Yempuku in the federal courts on August 5, 2024.
The wildfire displaced approximately 12,000 Lahaina residents. All of them are entitled to receive substantial damages, which they endured because of the deliberate indifference and negligence of the defendants responsible for the devastation, including Hawaiian Electric Company and its affiliates, Bishop Estate, and County emergency management employees.
“We decided to file this class action lawsuit specifically to obtain compensation for the thousands of innocent Lahaina residents who suffered the permanent, lifetime tragedy of being rendered homeless, and losing their jobs through no fault of their own. Our hope is that this lawsuit will give Lahaina wildfire survivors, especially kupuna and children, the ability to stay in Maui, or move back and live in Hawaii again,” said Attorney King. “We have been contacted by many displaced Lahaina residents who are fed up, angry, frustrated, and feeling hopeless.”
Attorney King said that Lahaina wildfire victims should not delay in seeking damages because the time to file a claim will run out next year.
Attorney King also said there is no attorneys’ fee if no recovery is obtained, and there are no up-front fees or costs for wildfire victims who join the lawsuit. Those interested in joining the displacement lawsuit can get more information at lahainawildfiredisplacedresident.com, or call (808) 521-6937 for a free consultation. Translation services are available.
Attorneys King and Yempuku are Honolulu personal injury attorneys who have decades of experience and have successfully represented hundreds of clients for their personal injury claims. Russell Myrick, an attorney licensed in California, is also working with King and Yempuku. Myrick has successfully settled several million-dollar class action lawsuits.