Hawaii Supreme Court justices posed many exacting, and sometimes skeptical, questions Thursday to attorneys in a case pertaining to the validity of a $4 billion deal to settle Maui wildfire litigation.

The court faces a decision that could kill the so-called “global” settlement between victims, Hawaii Electric, the state, Kamehameha Schools and other entities.

The $4.037 billion Global Settlement was announced in August. On Thursday, Feb, 6, the Hawaii Supreme Court finally had the opportunity to question lawyers about the legality of it.

The fire’s victims, along with the state and other parties, agreed in August 2024 to a $4 billion settlement to resolve hundreds of lawsuits filed in the wake of wildfires that destroyed the town of Lahaina on Maui and killed over 100 people and left thousands more displaced in 2023.

The key issue is whether insurance companies should have been included in the settlement for the $3 billion they are paying in property damage claims.

The outcome could mean higher insurance premiums or a bankrupt utility. It could also upend the proposed settlement, delaying payments to wildfire victims