Hawaii Supreme Court Upholds Election Results, Rejects Maui Candidate’s Signature Dispute Claim

Honolulu, Hawaii — The Hawaii Supreme Court recently handed down a ruling that upheld the general election results for a Maui County Council seat, dismissing a challenge by candidate Kelly King. King, who lost her bid for the council position last month by a narrow margin of 97 votes, had contested the legitimacy of the election process. In her lawsuit, King argued that an excessive number of ballots were improperly discarded due to issues with signatures being missing or deemed invalid. She claimed that the voters affected were not provided adequate assistance to rectify these … Read more

Historic $4 Billion Settlement Reached in Maui Wildfire Litigation, Aims to Resolve Claims and Support Victims

Honolulu, Hawaii – A landmark $4 billion agreement has been reached to settle all loss claims related to the devastating wildfire that swept through Maui nearly a year ago. This agreement marks the largest mass tort litigation in Hawaii’s history, but many steps remain before its completion, including judicial approval. The settlement aims to resolve claims from the catastrophic event on August 8, where fierce winds caused power lines to fall, igniting a blaze in Lahaina that claimed 102 lives and obliterated much of the town. The inferno, fueled by dry vegetation, destroyed approximately 3,500 … Read more

Mother Proposes Settlement in Lawsuit Over Maui Firefighter’s Tragic Death, Including Creation of a Memorial and Safety Audits

Honolulu, Hawaii — The mother of a Maui firefighter, who tragically lost his life after being swept into the ocean through a storm drain earlier this year, has proposed a settlement in a lawsuit against Maui County and the firefighter’s supervisor. Chelsie Evans is seeking to achieve both recognition for her son’s sacrifice and improvements in safety protocols to prevent future tragedies. Tre Evans-Dumaran, 24, died after a distressing incident during a flooding event in Kihei on February 4, where he was pulled through a storm drain and swept out to sea. He succumbed to … Read more

Insurance Companies Cite Negligence by Utility and Telecommunication Firms as Catalyst for Deadly Maui Wildfire

Honolulu, HI – Over 160 property insurance companies are taking legal action, pointing to an overburdened, aged utility pole as the catalyst for the devastating Maui wildfire last August. The fire claimed 102 lives and wreaked havoc in Lahaina, according to a recent court filing in Honolulu. The attorneys argue that the combined oversight by Kamehameha Schools, Hawaiian Electric Co., and major telecom firms contributed to the tragedy. The allegations suggest negligence and non-compliance with industry standards among the accused, including Kamehameha Schools—a prominent educational trust also known as The Bishop Estate—and utilities and telecom … Read more