The attorneys handling a $1.1 billion
settlement for victims in the deadly collapse of a Miami
condo say the settlement fund is inundated with fraudulent
victims.
A court filing written by Michael Goldberg, one of the
attorneys in the case, identified 458 “presumptively
fraudulent” claimants out of 740 claims. The Champlain Tower
South Condominium collapsed on June 24, 2021. About 35
people were rescued during the incident and 98 people died
in the collapse.
Those affected by the tower collapse can receive anywhere
from $50,000 to more than $1 million depending on how the
tragedy impacted them.
However, the nature of the suit has opened it up to
scammers, who believe they can get money without having to
prove that they have any connection to the tragedy, Goldberg
wrote.
“It is believed that many of the Presumptively Fraudulent
Claimants learned about the Settlement Fund and the
concomitant claims process through a website … which
provides unprincipled individuals with a list of “No-proof
class actions” whereby they can obtain settlement funds
without having to supply evidence in support of their
claims.”
Goldberg said it is obvious that some of the claimants are
lying because in some cases they claim to be inside a condo
unit during the collapse that was completely destroyed and
where no one survived. He also notes that many of them live
in the western parts of the United States such as
California, Oregon, Washington, and Colorado.
Goldberg asks that the judge in the case send notice to
these claimants that they must physically come to court,
present evidence that they should be compensated in the case
and if they are found to have perjured themselves should
face punishment for their actions. ‘
Local attorney Larry Perry is representing one of the condo
owners in the case.
“It is despicable and outrageous that scamsters are
attempting to prey on the victims of this tragedy.
Fortunately, the Receiver and the Judge will deny these
clearly fraudulent claims and we are recommending that those
who present fraudulent claims are turned over to the
Department of Insurance for prosecution,” Perry wrote. “The
true victims of this tragedy do not need to have another
moment’s delay in receiving civil justice, for any reason,
and especially for people who have absolutely no possible
claim. In my thirty years of practice, I have never seen
anything like the coordinated effort to steal from widows
and children. We will continue to protect those who rightly
deserve justice and seek to punish those who are
fraudulent.”