Debris dangles from the remains of apartments sheared in half, in the still standing portion of the Champlain Towers South condo building, more than a week after it partially collapsed, Friday, July 2, 2021, in Surfside, Fla. Rescue efforts on the rubble pile below resumed Thursday evening after being halted for most of the day over concerns about the stability of the remaining structure.(AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
On Saturday, a Florida judge allowed for a 1 billion dollar settlement to be awarded to the families of those who lost their lives last year when the Champlain Towers South beachfront condominium building collapsed.
This quick settlement was reached seemingly in an effort to avoid years of lengthy court battles.
The judge overseeing the case, Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Michael Hanzman, said that this was the best possible outcome given the loss of life and property in the disaster, WPTV reports. Some people may decide not to accept the deal and pursue their own independent claims.
The collapse happened on June 24, 2021, at approximately 1:22 a.m. EDT. A total of 98 people lost their lives and only 3 survivors were found.