Builders of Faulty ‘Skywalks’ at Hotel Donate $7.6 Million

Two defendants have paid more than $7.6 million to 10 local charities, as part of the settlement of a federal class-action lawsuit over the 1981 “skywalks” disaster at the Hyatt Regency hotel.

Hallmark Cards Inc. and Crown Center Redevelopment Corp. completed the payments last month, U.S. District Judge Scott O. Wright was told Tuesday. Hallmark owns Crown Center Redevelopment, builder of the hotel.

Two walkways suspended over the hotel’s atrium lobby collapsed on July 17, 1981, killing 114 people and leaving more than 200 injured.