Lawsuit alleges Pearl City
man’s dogs attacked and
injured 3 neighbors

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By Leila Fujimori
lfujimori@starbulletin.com

A 71-year-old Pearl City man was attacked in his carport by a neighbor's pit bull terrier last week, causing him to fall and sustain serious injuries to his arm, according to a lawsuit filed Wednesday.

Isamu Oshiro joined two of his Noelani Place neighbors in a lawsuit against Troy Murakami, whose dogs allegedly attacked the neighbors in June and July on their properties.

According to the lawsuit, Oshiro was attacked by Bully, a different dog from the two that attacked the two neighbors.

Richard Turbin, attorney for the three men, said the dogs are allowed to roam in the neighborhood.

The lawsuit also alleges Murakami has pounded on the walls of their houses, yelling threats and waving tools.

Steven Chow, Murakami's attorney, said he had not seen the amended complaint and could not comment on it.

The Hawaiian Humane Society cited Murakami on Sept. 20 for having a loose dog in the Oshiro case and later issued a warning citation under the dangerous dog ordinance with regard to Bully, said spokeswoman Eve Holt.

The Humane Society did not remove the dog, however.

"The Humane Society has the authority to remove dogs if we feel they will not or cannot be confined and that they pose a potential safety hazard to the community," Holt said.

The dangerous dog ordinance, which went into effect July 1, imposes a fine of up to $2,000 and 30 days in jail for owners of dogs considered dangerous.

On July 22, neighbor Mitsuji Hirata, 82, was attacked by two different pit bulls that tore the skin off his arm, cutting his arms and finger.

Murakami was cited again for violations of the loose dog and dog bite ordinances in the July 22 attack on Hirata and given a warning under the dangerous dog ordinance. After further investigation to clarify which dogs were involved in the attack, Murakami was cited under the dangerous dog law.

Yoshimi Fujihara, 78, was attacked and bitten several times on his arms and legs by the same two dogs on June 7, according to the lawsuit.

Murakami was issued a citation on June 7 in the Fujihara case for violation of the loose dog and dog bite laws, Holt said. The bite law allows civil action by the injured person.

Holt said Murakami removed those two pit bulls on July 22.