HONOLULU -- A judge on Kauai has just approved a massive settlement of lawsuits stemming from the Kaloko Dam failure.

Former auto dealer and landowner James "Jimmy" Pflueger was blamed by the state and families of seven people who died when hundreds of millions of gallons or water released by the collapse flowed down usually calm Wailapa stream.

Several other property owners, including singer Bette Midler, also sued Pflueger. They also were involved in Thursday's settlement.

Terms of the settlement were kept secret, but state taxpayers will bear some of the liability.

Pflueger blamed the state and prior dam owners. Pflueger said it was an act of nature and that state government is responsible because it is in charge of inspections.

Victims:

Alan Gareth Dingwall

Daniel Jay Arroyo

Rowan Grey Makana Fehring-Dingwall

Aurora Solveig Fehring

Christina Michelle McNees

Timothy Wendell Noonan Jr.

Carl Wayne Rotstein

The landslide and flooding left massive amounts of debris surrounding the Wailapa Stream.

Pflueger still faces criminal charges that the attorney general is pursuing.