Families of Ghost Ship fire victims receive $32.7 million settlement from City Of Oakland
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Families of the Oakland Ghost Ship fire victims have received a $32.7 million settlement from City Of Oakland.
Ghost Ship, a warehouse that had been converted into a living space and arts collective in Oakland, California, was hosting an event featuring artists from local label 100% Silk when a fire broke out in December 2016. The fire resulted in the deaths of 36 people, including a number of key figures in the local Bay Area electronic music scene such as 100% Silk artists Nackt (otherwise known as Johnny Igaz) and Cherushii (otherwise known as Chelsea Faith Dolan).
Last week (17th), the City Of Oakland, California settled 32 of the 36 lawsuits related to the fire, with $23.5 million given to the families of those who died in the fire, and $9.2 million going to Sam Maxwell, who survived while sustaining life-changing injuries.
Derick Almena, the lead tenant and lease holder of the Ghost Ship warehouse which was destroyed in a fire in 2016 killing 36 people, is to face a retrial in October 2020 following a mistrial last year, in which a jury reached a 10-2 deadlock on convicting him of the charges.
Max Harris, who was also partly involved in the running of events at the warehouse space, was acquitted in the September 2019 and has since been freed from jail.
A charity compilation was released by 100% Silk following the tragedy, with 50% of profits from sales being donated to Safer DIY Spaces, an Oakland-based coalition offering guidance, financial assistance, and labor to non-traditional creative community spaces. You can purchase ‘Silk To Dry The Tears’ here.
