Hawaii's Supreme Court ruled Monday that insurance companies can't bring their own legal actions against those blamed for Maui's catastrophic 2023 wildfire, allowing a $4 billion settlement that was on the verge of collapse to proceed.

Hawaii’s Supreme Court has ruled that insurance companies can’t bring their own legal actions against those blamed for Maui’s catastrophic 2023 wildfire, the deadliest in the U.S. in more than a century.

The settlement had been held up by insurance companies who had hoped to go after those being held liable for the massive blaze to recoup some of the insurance payments made to Maui homeowners and businesses.

A settlement was announced last summer, but insurance companies held out, insisting that they should have the right to go after the defendants separately.