Ka Loko Dam Breach Lawsuit Settled
Thomas Grande
announced settlement of a lawsuit brought on behalf of victims of the
March 6, 2006 Ka Loko Dam breach on the island of Kauai. "We are
certainly pleased that we were able to get compensation for our clients,
but it is a tragedy that never shoud have happened," Grande said.
Grande and co-counsel Terersa Tico,
Cronin, Fried Sekiya Kekina & Fairbanks and Davis Levin Livingston
filed the case against twelve defendants, including dam owner James
Pflueger, reservoir owner Mary Lucas Trust, the State of Hawaii and the
County of Kauai. The families of seven persons who lost their lives and
twenty-six homeowners whose property was damaged will receive
compensation. The case was scheduled to begin trial in February 2010 and
was expected to last more than a year.
The settlement was approved by Fifth
Circuit Court Judge Kathleen Watanabe on October 29, 2009. "It's been a
very emotional case," Tico said after the approval hearing. "This day
is great day for justice. It brings closure to our clients."
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