By Jesse Graham
BLACK Saturday bushfire victims will be likely to receive their share of a $700 million class action lawsuit settlement before Christmas, following a Supreme Court approval earlier this month.
On Wednesday, 7 December, Supreme Court of Victoria Justices Jack Forrest and John Dixon ruled to distribute $698.5 million to thousands of victims of the 2009 Black Saturday Bushfires.
The approval comes after a settlement of $494.67 million for the Kilmore East-Kinglake bushfire class action lawsuit in December, 2014, and a $300 million settlement for the Murrindindi bushfire class action in February, 2015.
Litigation and administration costs were deducted from the total before the distribution, and class action participants who were injured or left dependent from the fires are expected to receive their share of the money before Christmas.
Businesses and individuals who suffered economic loss and property damage are expected to receive their money in early 2017.
Justice Forrest said the work that had gone into organising the settlements and distribution “demonstrates that the class action process works”.
Every single claim for damages was individually assessed as part of the process, and Justice Forrest said that, without settlement, the court would have had to hear thousands of claims over years before reaching a result.
“It shows that when it is properly managed, many substantially disadvantaged and affected people can recover compensation that they would otherwise not have been able to obtain,” he said.
In a media statement, Maurice Blackburn principal Brooke Dellavedova said it was a “long, hard fight” in court and in administration to get through the settlement.
“We’re pleased the process is drawing to a close and heartened by the court’s endorsement of the settlement administration,” she said.
“The money won’t change what has happened, but we’re looking forward to distributing much-needed compensation to those affected.“
