Judge Approves Sale Of Surfside Collapse Property To Compensate Victims

MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Residents of the Champlain Towers South collapse in Surfside, will be compensated sooner rather than later, if a judge has his way.

A hearing was held Wednesday morning regarding the sale of the property in which Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Michael Hanzman signed off on the planned sale of the oceanfront site.

The judge told attorneys representing residents that he wants to start the process immediately.

"This is obviously a case where there is no amount of money that could possibly be available to compensate these families for their suffering and their loss. Well, there's no amount of money in the world that could do that," said Hanzman.

The judge also wants the court-appointed receiver for the condo association to begin disbursing millions of dollars in insurance payments. There is $48 million in total insurance coverage. Thirty million for property damage and $18 million for personal injury.

The judge ruled out plans of converting the property to a memorial site because it wouldn't generate much money for the victims of the tragic collapse.

Many wrongful death lawsuits are expected to be forthcoming from families who lost loved ones in the tragedy and the judge said he wanted to "monetize the property" quickly.

Judge Hanzman said he would like to see a consolidation of the civil lawsuits, perhaps one big class-action lawsuit. It's unknown how things will proceed with the wrongful death lawsuits.

The judge also said he's like to see just one lawyer take the lead when it comes to the liability civil lawsuits. One of the lawyers said in court how what a difficult road ahead it's going to be.

Thursday night there will be a meeting with survivors and those families who lost loved ones to discuss the money that they will receive in the short term and the money that will be forthcoming.