A major roadblock to the $4 billion global settlement for the Maui wildfires has been cleared. A lawyer representing victims says it could mean that survivors receive their first settlement payments by the end of the year.

Maui wildfire victims are closer to sharing a $4 billion settlement, possibly before the disaster’s second anniversary in August, after a Hawaii Supreme Court ruling Monday.

The settlement had been held up by insurance companies who had hoped to go after those being held liable for the massive blaze to recoup some of the insurance payments made to Maui homeowners and businesses.