MIAMI — Victims of the Surfside condominium collapse made impassioned pleas about how money in a legal dispute should be divided, but at the end of a court hearing Wednesday the judge overseeing the case was not swayed and approved an $83 million settlement he had previously endorsed.
Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Michael Hanzman listened to emotional arguments on both sides and ruled that an agreement reached in mediation would stand, paying owners of the 136 units of Champlain Towers South in proportion to the size of their units but substantially less than the appraised or market value.
“It’s been a very difficult day for all of us,” said Hanzman, whose eyes at one point welled with tears, as did those of others in the courtroom. “I know there are a lot of hard feelings and discomfort with this settlement. But a settlement is a compromise. I’ve said from the outset we can’t let perfect be the enemy of good. For people to walk away with $83 million quickly is a remarkable result.”
