Judge Approves $106 Million Settlement for Hard Rock Hotel Collapse Case

On August 6th, 2026, the Honorable Judge Kern Reese approved the $106 million dollar settlement for the Hard Rock Hotel Collapse Case. We honor all of those affected by the collapse, and are grateful to the families who trusted us to lead them through the legal process.

Remembering Those Affected

On October 12th, 2019, the Hard Rock Hotel construction collapsed, shaking our New Orleans community. We honor and remember the lives of the three men who were taken from us that day: Anthony Magrette, Jose Ponce Areola, and Quinnyon Wimberly. We also want to recognize the injuries suffered by over one hundred individuals and the economic losses of the businesses in the surrounding area. No settlement amount will be able to make up for the lives lost, but we hope that this will help bring some closure to everyone affected.

The Complexity of This Case

The Hard Rock Hotel Collapse Case was an extremely complicated web, involving 490 claimants, about 300 attorneys, both on the plaintiff and defense side, and a total of 21 defendants. Judge Kern Reese appointed a Plaintiff Steering Committee (PSC), naming our very own Mark Glago and Walter Leger as Co-Lead Counsel. The PSC worked together to untangle the web, resulting in over six years of litigation and this $106 million settlement.

Next Steps

Now what? Following the approval of the $106 million settlement, this amount will be allocated amongst the 490 plaintiffs by Special Master, John Perry.

Honored & Grateful

We are grateful to the families who trusted us with their stories, to Judge Reese, whose steady hand and command of an extraordinarily complex case made this resolution possible, to Special Master John Perry for his legendary skills as a mediator, and to every attorney and staff member who refused to let this case be forgotten. It has been the honor of our professional lives to stand beside these families. We hope this resolution allows New Orleans to move forward, while never forgetting the men who did not come home that day in October 2019.