By JENNIFER SINCO KELLEHER, Associated Press

HONOLULU (AP) — Hawaii’s Supreme Court has ruled that insurance companies can’t bring their own legal actions against those blamed for Maui’s catastrophic 2023 wildfire, the deadliest in the U.S. in more than a century.

The move allows a $4 billion settlement that had been threatened to proceed. Other steps still remain to finalize the deal between thousands of people who lodged lawsuits and defendants, including Hawaiian Electric Company.