Maui judge bars insurers from going after fire victims after settlement reached

FILE – Damaged property lies scattered in the aftermath of a wildfire in Lahaina, Hawaii, (Jae C Hong/AP)

A Maui judge’s ruling on Tuesday resolves a critical roadblock to finalising a 4 billion dollar (£3.1 billion) wildfire settlement.

Insurance companies who have paid out more than 2 billion dollars (£1.5 billion) in claims can seek reimbursement only from the settlement amount defendants fire victims blame for causing the deadly tragedy have agreed to pay.