NEW ORLEANS — Now that a federal judge has blamed "monumental negligence" by the Army Corps of Engineers for some of the worst flooding from Hurricane Katrina, thousands of storm victims could be lining up for money.

The decision opens the door to billions of dollars in other claims by more than 100,000 individuals, businesses, and even government entities that have pending damage claims against the corps.

Residents of the hardest-hit areas have argued that Katrina's damage was largely a result of the government's failure to maintain the levees protecting the city.

But a law professor at Loyola University in New Orleans said if the ruling holds up on appeal, he'd expect Congress to approve a federal settlement, rather than go through individual trials.

Plaintiffs' lawyers said they'll approach congressional leaders after Thanksgiving with a list of demands to settle the case. They said the federal government needs to compensate victims throughout New Orleans, and fix the region's broken infrastructure.