The announcement in the Surfside condo collapse litigation this month came as a surprise: Less than a year after the June 24 tragedy that killed 98 people and shook condo residents across Florida, relatives of the victims and survivors had reached a settlement that will pay them nearly $1 billion.
The settlement is far from perfect, like the $83 million wrongful death settlement that came before it. There are still agonizing decisions to be made about how much money the individual plaintiffs, including family members of those who died, will receive, knowing that no amount of money can compensate for the loss of loved and cherished people. But the speed at which this settlement was reached — offering some measure relief for those affected — is remarkable.
It’s that speed and determination that should jolt the conscience of every Florida legislator — and the governor — who have yet to do anything to make condo dwellers safer after the collapse. With almost a year to do the work and with full control of the House, Senate and governor’s office, Florida’s Republican lawmakers still have failed to pass a single piece of state legislation addressing the catastrophe.
