UH-Dobelle talks
extended for a weekIf a settlement cannot be mediated,
lawyers are ready to rumble
The mediation between the University of Hawaii and fired UH President Evan Dobelle has been extended for a week and "could prove fruitful," said UH Board of Regents Chairwoman Patricia Lee.
Regents met in private with their attorneys yesterday and were updated on the mediation effort.
Patricia Lee: She says a report on the talks suggests one more week "could prove fruitful"
"From the report we received this morning, we believe one more week of mediation is warranted and could prove fruitful," Lee said.
The board scheduled another meeting for Thursday afternoon to discuss a possible settlement or their alternatives if there is no agreement.
Dobelle was fired from his $442,000-a-year job on June 15 "for cause." The action effectively denies the former president a $2.26 million severance payment. The regents have not detailed the cause for his firing.
Last week, the regents extended Dobelle's termination date from tomorrow to Aug. 14 "to allow the parties to continue further efforts in mediation."
Dobelle has hired Honolulu attorney Richard Fried to investigate a possible lawsuit against the university. Fried put together a legal team of other prominent local attorneys: Mark Davis, John Edmunds, Jeffrey Portnoy and David Simons.
Fried's team has expertise in personal injury, civil rights, First Amendment, tenure and criminal defense cases.
The regents are represented by Barry Marr, a Honolulu attorney who specializes in employment law.
Regents also hired high-profile litigator Bill McCorriston, a former assistant U.S. attorney, his partner Darolyn Lendio, a former city corporation counsel, and Big Island attorney Jerry Hiatt, another specialist in employment law. They will assist in the mediation and prepare for a possible court case.
The university, regents and Dobelle entered into talks on July 1 and said neither side would comment until the mediation was over. Former state Attorney General Warren Price III was hired to serve as mediator.
McCorriston and Marr had no comment on the mediation yesterday as they left the meeting.
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