The Supreme Court has found that attorney James Kawachika — a past president of the Hawai'i Bar Association — was in a conflict of interest when he acted as court-appointed "master" reviewing liquidation of the Damon Estate's $1 billion in assets.
The high court also faulted state Probate Court Judge Colleen Hirai for allowing Kawachika to continue serving as master in 2004 despite objections from Damon heir Christopher Damon Haig.
Kawachika's law firm, Reinwald O'Connor & Playdon, was representing the estate in two civil lawsuits when Hirai appointed Kawachika in May 2004 to review the estate's business activities during the years 1999 through 2003. That was a critical period for the Damon Estate, when trustees sold some $500 million in local bank stock and another $400 million in real estate holdings and prepared to distribute the cash to heirs of the family fortune.
The law firm's representation of the estate at the same time Kawachika worked as master created a situation in which his "impartiality might reasonably be questioned."
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Damon Estate 'master' faulted
The high court also faulted state Probate Court Judge Colleen Hirai for allowing Kawachika to continue serving as master in 2004 despite objections from Damon heir Christopher Damon Haig.
Kawachika's law firm, Reinwald O'Connor & Playdon, was representing the estate in two civil lawsuits when Hirai appointed Kawachika in May 2004 to review the estate's business activities during the years 1999 through 2003. That was a critical period for the Damon Estate, when trustees sold some $500 million in local bank stock and another $400 million in real estate holdings and prepared to distribute the cash to heirs of the family fortune.
The law firm's representation of the estate at the same time Kawachika worked as master created a situation in which his "impartiality might reasonably be questioned."
Full Article and Source:
Damon Estate 'master' faulted
"Reasonably" be questioned?
ReplyDeleteGimme a break!
The ABA and their self-serving self-policing are the cause of the lawyers' image to sink to its lowest ebb since the witch trials!
"Might reasonably questioned"!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI'd say 'any REASONABLE person' would be OUTRAGED!
Blatent stealing, prosecute and send the THIEF to prison!
This conflict of interest is going on all across the US -- and they're getting away with it.
ReplyDeleteThis is a joke, yes?
ReplyDeleteJudge HIrai has been on the bench overseeing our litigation for over 5 years I wouldn't want to think she is procrastinating so the other attorney Rhonda Griswold and Cades Shutte could continue to profit with the legal fees. What is taking so long for a ruling on a case that is obviously in our favor
ReplyDeletehttp://youtube.com/watch?v=d_PiKumEPVU