No. 27132 (December 30, 2008)
Opinion pdf
OPINION OF THE COURT BY NAKAYAMA, J.
Respondent-Appellant Christopher Damon Haig ("Haig") appeals from the first circuit court's ("probate court's") January 12, 2005 judgment in favor of Petitioner-Appellees Trustees of the Estate of Samuel M. Damon ("the Trustees"). On appeal, as best we can discern, Haig asserts seven points of error that may be combined into two general points of error, as follows: (1) the probate court abused its discretion by denying his request to disqualify James Kawachika, Esq. as master ("Kawachika" or "Master") of a petition that was filed by the Trustees for approval of the 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2003 income and principal accounts ("Petition"), and (2) the probate court erred in granting the Petition as recommended by the Master's report. For the reasons that follow, we hold that the probate court abused its discretion when it denied Haig's request to disqualify Kawachika and the Trustees. Accordingly, we vacate the probate court's January 12, 2005 judgment, and remand for further proceedings consistent with this opinion. [footnote omitted]
