Judge OKs $106 million Deal to Resolve Hard Rock Hotel Collapse Lawsuits

In a decision announced Thursday, Judge Kern Reese of the Orleans Parish Civil District Court authorized a $106 million settlement that resolves a protracted legal battle over the 2019 Hard Rock Hotel collapse in New Orleans. The disaster, which occurred in October 2019, resulted in three deaths and damage to nearby structures. Although a grand jury chose not to indict anyone, the City of New Orleans and other parties filed civil suits that were later consolidated into a single case involving 490 plaintiffs and 21 defendants.

Co-lead counsel for the plaintiffs, Mark Glago, said the agreement represents a significant victory for those affected. The settlement funds will be allocated by a special master appointed by the court. This resolution brings closure to a litigation process that has lasted more than six years.