Our Hawaiʻi law firm is on the ground, working in the current effort to assist individuals, families and businesses impacted by the West Maui fire disaster. Our managing partner Ilana Waxman is a lifelong Maui resident. We have witnessed first-hand the tragic impact this fire has had on our neighbors, friends and loved ones.
As the search for the missing continues and the death count grows, we know the challenges for our island have just begun. The scale of the damage and its impact on Lahaina residents are coming into greater focus every day. And it’s only been made worse by the knowledge that this could have been prevented. We want to help Maui fire victims get the compensation and assistance that they deserve so that we can rebuild our community even stronger than before.
From Lahaina’s ashes, a Maui lawyer’s career takes a dramatic turn
A long-time criminal prosecutor who took down kidnappers, bank robbers, violent gang members and organized crime rings, Beth Nardi 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.
Legal Help for Maui Fire Victims
Our experienced legal team is available to aid Maui fire victims in understanding their options and legal rights, including ensuring that insurance companies provide prompt and fair compensation for losses. In this effort, Galiher Law is working alongside the Hawai‘i State Bar Foundation, the Hawai‘i Association for Justice and the American Association for Justice to provide legal assistance to victims of the fire.
Maui Fire Victim Compensation
The heartbreak we are all experiencing has only grown with new revelations the Lahaina fire could have been prevented. Authorities say negligence by electricity provider Hawaiian Electric Co. (HECO) may be to blame not only for sparking the blaze but also for causing delays and bottlenecks on the ground. Despite forecasted high-fire-danger conditions, HECO failed to shut off electricity, complicating evacuation efforts and emergency response. Investigators say dozens of still-energized poles fell across roads in West Maui, hindering the ability for residents to evacuate and for emergency crews to respond. Our firm is experienced in obtaining justice and monetary damages for victims from powerful corporations and entities like HECO.
Our Hawaiʻi Fire Lawyers Protect Victims
Our law firm has worked hard to ensure people living in Hawaiʻi are protected from negligent behavior on the part of large corporations like HECO. State laws allow individuals and businesses to recover monetary damages when negligent parties are found responsible for damages caused by their actions, including:
- Wrongful death
- Personal injury
- Pain and suffering
- Property damage
- Business interruption
- Bad-faith insurance by insurance companies
If a large company was responsible for these fires, you deserve to be compensated for your losses, regardless of insurance or property ownership status. Our law firm has years of experience in corporate negligence litigation and can help you get the justice you deserve.
Were you a victim of the Maui Fires? Find out if you’re eligible for compensation. Contact our Maui fire lawyers for a free consultation.
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Fight For Your Hawaiʻi Insurance Rights
As Lahaina begins the long rebuilding process, thousands of claims are being filed with insurance companies. However, insurance companies operate with an unfair advantage with complicated contracts and claims processes. Policyholders often don’t understand the process, their rights and the benefits they are entitled to. We are able to help protect policyholders from insurance companies operating in bad faith and engaging in unfair and dishonest practices, including:
- Intentionally delaying reimbursement for insurance claims
- Intentionally denying claims
- Underestimating and underpaying damage claims
How our Maui Fire Disaster lawyers can help you
If you feel like your insurance company has not treated you fairly or that another entity needs to be held accountable, our experienced Maui fire disaster attorneys are available to help. You have protections if a claim is denied or if your insurance company undervalues your claim. Consult with one of our Lahaina fire attorneys who can protect your rights, negotiate for you and secure the compensation you deserve.
We are working hands-on to help in the community. Support the victims of the Lahaina fire by donating the Hawai‘i Community Foundation’s Maui Strong Fund today.
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Unscrupulous Banks, Lenders are Profiting from Lahaina Fire Disaster
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.
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$4 Billion Global Settlement Reached for Maui Wildfires Victims
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.”
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From Lahaina’s ashes, a Maui lawyer’s career takes a dramatic turn
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.
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What Should Maui Fire Victims Expect from Their Law Firm?
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.
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Maui-born Partner Ilana Waxman on Rebuilding after Lahaina Fires
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.
Read MoreOur Core Values
We take your case personally and put your needs first. That means you will receive individual attention from our attorneys who work as a team. We leverage our vast experience and resources to ensure you get the best possible results, even if that means going to court. No kou pono drives our resolve — everything we do is on your behalf. And at the end of the day, nothing is more important to us than honesty and integrity.
Our Results
We fearlessly take on large companies on behalf of locals and win. With over $1 billion in recoveries our track record speaks for itself. For decades, we’ve negotiated substantial settlements, obtained successful verdicts at trial and have been successful at appeal.
No Recovery, No Fee
If there’s no recovery in your case, you will not
have to pay a fee. We handle everything on a
contingency basis.
We Can Help
We provide free initial consultations. If you believe you or a loved one has a claim or a potential lawsuit, we are willing to meet with you to evaluate your claim with no obligation on your part. To learn more about your legal rights and options, please contact us to receive a free initial consultation.