Getting Results – Recovered more than insurance face value in largest U.S. hotel fire

JMBM represented the owner of the San Juan Dupont Plaza Hotel which was devastated by an act of arson and resulted in the greatest loss of human life in any U.S. hotel fire. This fire killed more than 100 people, injured over 600 people and caused substantial property damage to the hotel. Initial claims filed against the owner on behalf of the victims and other claimants exceeded $300 million for death, injury and property loss. Although the face value of the fire insurance policy at the time of the disaster was $1 million, the end result was an insurance payment in excess of $150 million. The wide-ranging multi-district litigation involved numerous intertwining business and legal issues and numerous direct and third-party claims. JMBM’s representation included directing hundreds of professionals that were involved in the case. After five years of active trial and appellate litigation, the case was settled half-way through trial in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Attorneys fees were recovered.