City’s lawsuit
budget too low?

The city attorney says the
$4.8 million budget
should be doubled

By Gordon Y.K. Pang
Star-Bulletin

With a number of high-profile cases pending, the $4.8 million in the coming city budget for settlements and judgments could fall short.

That's according to city Corporation Counsel David Arakawa, who said his attorneys are scheduled to handle several big-ticket cases during the fiscal year that begins July 1.

"With the types of cases we've got, we should have in more," Arakawa said. "I'm confident we can defend these cases but you never know what's going to happen if these go to trial."

Arakawa said there should be at least double the $4.8 million recommended by the Budget Department.

Budget Director Malcolm Tom said the recommendation by his office won't change.

"The provisional account has always been more than adequate," Tom said in a statement. "If we need additional resources, we will cut costs in other areas to provide those additional resources."

Cases mentioned by Arakawa include lawsuits filed by:

The family of Rodney Laulusa who was shot to death by police officers in Palolo Valley in January 1998.

Surviving members of the Faumuina family, whose seven relatives died in a Palolo fire in October 1997.

Police outreach worker Sharon Black, who alleges sexual harassment by a high-ranking supervisor several years ago.

Families of the late Tate Kahakai and Bryant Bayne, two specialized services police officers killed during a search-and-rescue mission in 1995.

Surviving members of a Nuuanu family who lost three family members during a fatal traffic collision along Farrington Highway in January 1997.

Parents of Tracey Teruya, who was killed when her car was struck by a fire truck heading for a medical call in February 1998.

Parents of Jared Febenito, who was shot to death during an altercation with police.

"All of these cases are hitting at one time," Arakawa said. "All of these potentially could break the budget."

The cases are in addition to the standard construction, car accident, flooding, slip-and-fall and other cases that land the city in court each year, he said.

He said there are about 100 pending lawsuits and thousands of claims.

"This account's supposed to take care of all of that," Arakawa said.