Maui Plaintiffs Dismiss Claims vs. Telecom Firms, Not Spectrum, for Roles in Wildfire

The nearly three dozen plaintiffs in one of multiple lawsuits seeking to establish liability for causing the Aug. 8 Lahaina wildfire on Maui that killed more than 100 and destroyed hundreds of homes and businesses (see 2311150004) voluntarily dismissed without prejudice all their claims against Hawaiian Telcom and Hawaiian Telecommunications, said their notice Friday (docket 1:23-cv-00459) in U.S. District Court for Hawaii. The notice will have no effect on the plaintiffs' currently pending claims against any of the other defendants, including Spectrum, it said. The alleged liability of Spectrum and the telecom companies came into play because they own and operate telecommunications equipment attached to the wooden power poles on Maui, under licenses from the local utilities, said the complaint. Despite their duty to properly design, construct, install, use, inspect, repair and maintain that equipment, Spectrum and the telecom companies “overloaded” at least some of the power poles, “destabilizing them” in the high winds that helped feed the wildfire, it said.