Those of us who have been in the courtroom when the U.S. Supreme Court has conducted its sessions over the past decades will certainly recall the fairly tall guy in the fancy suit guiding the lawyers, press, and audience members where to sit, what to do, and the like. That was the Clerk of the
HAWSCT Considering Whether A County Has A Duty To Maintain Accurate Public Records
Here’s an interesting case upcoming on the Hawaii Supreme Court’s oral argument calendar that is worth following. (April 29, 2014, at 10:00 a.m. – the court is taking the show on the road, and the arguments will be at the gym at Kealakehe High School, in Kailua-Kona, on the Big Island.)
In Molfino v.
4th Cir: Uniform Relocation Act Requirements Are Like The Pirate’s Code – “More What You’d Call ‘Guidelines,’ Than Actual Rules”
One portion of the federal Uniform Relocation Act, 42 U.S.C. § 4651, requires Federal agencies participating in projects requiring the acquisition of private property to be guided by certain policies that “assure consistent treatment for owners . . . and . . . .promote public confidence in Federal land acquisition practices,” such as (and we’re paraphrasing
Does Hawaii Need An “Environmental Court?” (Part II)
Looks like they’re at it again, a solution in search of a problem: a bill has been proposed in the Hawaii Legislature to create an “Environmental Court,” whose mission would be to handle “environmental disputes” arising under a wide range of state statutes:
…administrative proceedings and proceedings for declaratory judgment on the validity of agency
HAWSCT: Damage To Unique Property Subject To Unique Rules
There’s not much doubt that the now-notorious large-scale unpermitted upland grading and grubbing by a Kauai property owner on its private land caused the runoff that catastrophically damaged the adjacent beach and the reef offshore. The damage was pretty bad, and resulted in the “largest storm water settlement [with the federal EPA] in the United
HAWSCT: Lawyers’ Contingency Fee Lien On Judgment Is Not Due Process “Property”
We must say that we’re a touch conflicted about the Hawaii Supreme Court’s 4-1 decision in Lopez v. State of Hawaii, No. SCWC-11-0000512 (Feb. 12, 2014), issued yesterday.
On one hand, we like the idea that the fruits of your labor are your “property,” and cannot be taken away from you by the state
Tuesday Round-Up: Hawaii In The Eminent Domain Spotlight
Looks like eminent domain and Hawaii are in the news today. Here’s what we’re reading:
- In “Scalia the Prophet?” Gideon Kanner comments about Justice Scalia’s recent appearance at one of our almas mater, the University of Hawaii law school. Scalia says that Kelo will eventually be overruled (“it will not survive”).
- Lawprof Ilya
Upcoming Program: “They’ll Take My Big Gulp From My Cold, Dead Hands – Public Health, the Police Power, and the Nanny State”
Next Thursday, February 6, 2014, we’ll be in Chicago to moderate an American Bar Association discussion/debate on a topic that’s not our usual takings-eminent domain-land use stuff, but is still one of the hotter topics around. “They’ll Take My Big Gulp From My Cold Dead Hands” is an hour-and-a-half with three experts in
Cert Briefs In Admin Due Process Case
Here are the cert briefs in Kellberg v. Yuen, No. SCWC-12-0000266 (Haw. Jan. 22, 2014), the case in which the Hawaii Supreme Court held that there is only one “final decision” that a challenger must administratively appeal when objecting, and that due process requires the agency to give a challenger notice of the administrative
HAWSCT: Triggers To Administrative Appeals Must Be Clear And Noticed
The Hawaii Supreme Court has issued an opinion that is very good for property owners and anyone who must use the administrative appeals process. [Disclosure: we represent the prevailing Petitioner in this case.]
In Kellberg v. Yuen, No. SCWC-12-0000266 (Jan. 22, 2014), the unanimous court, in a detailed opinion by Justice Pollack, held that