A judge on Wednesday pushed for compromise on potential payouts to people who lost loved ones and those whose units were destroyed in the deadly collapse of a Florida beachfront condominium.
|
In this July 1, 2021, file photo, Coast Guard boats patrol in front of the partially collapsed Champlain Towers South condo building in Surfside, Fla. A judge pushed on Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2021, for compromise on potential payouts between people who lost loved ones and those whose units were destroyed in the deadly collapse of a Florida beachfront condominium. |
“There is a lot of emotion. There's a lot of anger. The law will decide this,” the judge said.
An offer of $120 million has been made for the property with more bids expected in the coming weeks. An auction for the sale is tentatively set for February. Money to compensate victims will also come from insurance and from lawsuit damages, if any.
In another
development, Hanzman approved a motion allowing Miami-Dade
County to dispose of building rubble deemed unnecessary for
investigators looking into the cause of the collapse and
legal experts hired to help determine who is liable for
damages in the lawsuits.
The court-appointed receiver handling the property and
finances, lawyer Michael Goldberg, said authorities had
carefully gone through the rubble multiple times to find any
human remains or personal property.
In addition, Hanzman approved another motion allowing
Goldberg to take possession of the Champlain Towers property
so that experts working for law firms can begin their
on-site investigations. The property has been under
Miami-Dade County control since the collapse and government
investigators have already been at work there and in a
warehouse where key building material was taken.
“This case is entering a new phase today,” Goldberg said.
“We'll make sure everybody gets proper access.”