Fire Lawsuits and Legal Help

A controversial last-minute proposal in the Hawai’i' legislature could limit Hawaiian Electric Company's (HECO) liability for future wildfires — a move that has sparked criticism among victims of the catastrophic 2023 Lahaina fire. Hawaii News Now spoke with attorney Beth Nardi about the development, which would allow HECO to cap its financial liability if it’s found responsible for another catastrophic fire. The bill would also allow HECO to use customer funds to upgrade its grid. Critics warn the plan could leave future victims without sufficient compensation, effectively shielding the utility from accountability. Nardi, who represents Lahaina fire survivors and lost her own home in the 2023 blaze, called the proposal “deeply concerning,” warning that it prioritizes corporate protection over victim recovery. “I was shocked, and frankly, I don’t think enough people know what has actually gone on,” Nardi said. “I think that people would be very upset if they knew that. “In Lahaina, it’s going to happen again and with the way the bill is currently set, it is not going to provide any meaningful compensation to the victims to help them rebuild their lives.”  

On the day that Maui residents observed the second anniversary of the Lahaina wildfires, Maui Judge Peter Cahill extended the lawsuit filing deadline, providing victims additional time to seek damages and participate in a $4 billion settlement reached with defendants. Judge Cahill extended the statute of limitations to October 1. To qualify, victims must submit by October 1: A signed settlement agreement A claims questionnaire All supporting documents for their damages In May 2025, Judge Cahill approved a distribution plan for the $4 billion settlement reached with defendants. The ruling sets in motion a process for individual wildfire victims to begin receiving compensation as soon as December 2025 through the Individual Settlement Plan (ISP). More than 20,000 people—including families who lost loved ones, homes, businesses, and livelihoods—are eligible to submit claims.

Homes reduced to ash, businesses disrupted, jobs lost — the aftermath of the recent Los Angeles wildfires have left survivors with a complex web of emotional and financial hardships. Like the 2023 wildfires in Maui, lawyers and law firms — many from out of state — have descended on the area even as the Pacific Palisades and Altadena neighborhoods were still smoldering. While lawsuits against public utility companies like Southern California Edison may result in monetary recoveries that will ultimately help survivors rebuild, choosing the right legal representation is paramount. At Galiher DeRobertis & Waxman our attorneys and staff were directly impacted by the devastating Lahaina fires of 2023. We’ve learned so much from personal experiences, as well as representing survivors in litigation and watching the good and bad practices of other law firms.  

A $4 billion Lahaina wildfire settlement that is key to rebuilding efforts underway by survivors has cleared a key hurdle with a unanimous opinion by the Hawai’i Supreme Court. In a February 10 ruling, the five justices on the state’s highest court rejected an attempt by insurance companies to block the settlement by claiming a share of funds intended for survivors. “This ruling means that survivors are one step closer to justice,” said Galiher DeRobertis & Waxman attorney Beth Nardi, a Lahaina resident who also lost her home in the fire. “We’re grateful that the Supreme Court followed Hawai’i state law in this case and rejected the insurance companies’ argument. This paves the way for much-needed financial assistance for fire survivors to rebuild our lives.”

We’re constantly surprised by the new and unexpected ways that Lahaina fire victims are being taken advantage of as they face the daunting task of rebuilding. One of the latest examples is highlighted by Civil Beat reporter John Hill’s examination of unequal treatment homeowners are experiencing with the money they receive from insurance settlements. Many banks and mortgage lenders are requiring homeowners to deposit the money with them and — in many cases — the homeowners are not receiving interest on those deposits.

Galiher DeRobertis & Waxman attorneys welcome historic settlement, available to answer key questions MAUI, HI — Nearly a year after wildfires destroyed the town of Lahaina, killing more than 100, a global settlement has been reached that would provide $4 billion to resolve claims, including injury, wrongful death, property and other damages claims. “Our clients still struggle with housing, with keeping their families together, and with providing for themselves and their families. They’re still experiencing real hardship and trauma,” said attorney Beth Nardi of Hawai‘i-based Galiher DeRobertis & Waxman, whose Lahaina home was destroyed in the fire. “As a survivor myself, I can say that I’m relieved that the lawsuits have taken a major step toward a resolution that can allow the community to move forward and rebuild.”

I really thought I was always going to be a prosecutor — then the fire happened. Getting calls from friends and family members impacted by the fires asking for advice, it occurred to me there were so many new ways to serve victims. — Galiher DeRobertis & Waxman trial lawyer Beth Nardi Beth Nardi can thank the Lahaina fires for at least one thing. After a dramatic escape that destroyed her Lahaina home and left her among the many thousands of residents navigating the rebuilding process, Beth’s legal career took a surprise turn. A long-time criminal prosecutor who took down kidnappers, bank robbers, violent gang members and organized crime rings, Beth was expecting to spend many more years in the Maui County Prosecutor’s office. But living through the Lahaina fires and seeing the challenges and heartbreak experienced by friends and neighbors prompted her to change the course of her career and move into civil litigation with a singular purpose: helping neighbors rebuild and obtain justice.

Ashes were still smoldering in Lahaina when mainland lawyers began arriving with big promises and a sense of urgency. In the months since, survivors have been inundated by advertisements from lawyers seeking to sign them on for legal services. We know firsthand because we talk with fire survivors every day as we work on the Maui fires litigation, and we see the big promises in other law firms’ advertisements and solicitations. There’s no doubt that lawyers can play an important role in helping Lahaina residents rebuild their lives. But fire survivors should know a few things about hiring an attorney and filing a lawsuit.  

Like her longtime Maui neighbors, Galiher DeRobertis & Waxman Managing Partner Ilana Waxman was on edge on the morning of August 8. Massive fires had been spotted near her Upcountry home, and her eldest daughter’s school was canceled as a precaution. Homes had already been lost in Kula. As the destruction and devastating loss of life in Lahaina became apparent, she set to work helping with immediate needs of the survivors. As an experienced mass tort attorney who was born and raised on Maui, Waxman found herself in a position to provide legal assistance to survivors as they work to rebuild and preserve their unique community and way of life. Since the fire, Waxman has been working closely with the Hawai’i State Bar Foundation, where she is the chair of the Grants Committee, as well as the Hawai’i State Bar Association and the Hawai’i Association for Justice to raise funds, provide a wide range of legal assistance, and identify and develop long term public policy and legal solutions. We caught up with Waxman to discuss the legal challenges and opportunities facing survivors.

The legal team and staff at Galiher DeRobertis & Waxman are actively working with victims of the Maui Fire Disaster, as well as Hawai‘i community and aid organizations. Firm managing partner Ilana Waxman — who was born and raised on Maui — is working closely with the Hawaii State Bar Foundation, the Hawaii Association for Justice, and the American Association for Justice to provide legal assistance to victims of the fire, which destroyed the city of Lahaina. Galiher DeRobertis & Waxman lawyers on the ground in Hawai‘i are also coordinating with the Hawai‘i Community Foundation’s “Lawyers Care Maui” fund to coordinate fundraising and legal assistance. Click here to learn more and donate to the Hawai‘i Community Foundation’s “Maui Strong Fund.”