Source: https://caselaw.findlaw.com/hi-intermediate-court-of-appeals/1866536.html
Timestamp: 2019-04-23 17:16:32+00:00

Document:
TRUSTEES OF THE ESTATE OF BERNICE PAUAHI BISHOP, Defendant/Third-Party Plaintiff/ Third-Party Counterclaim Defendant-Appellee, v. GOTO CONSTRUCTION, INC., Third-Party Defendant/Third-Party Counterclaimant-Appellee, JOHN DOES 1-5; JANE DOES 1-5; DOE CORPORATIONS 1-5; DOE PARTNERSHIPS 1-5; DOE ENTITIES 1-5; DOE GOVERNMENTAL UNITS 1-5, Defendants.
Upon review of the record in CAAP-16-0000688, it appears that this court lacks appellate jurisdiction over the appeal. Plaintiff-Appellant Christopher Messer (Appellant) appeals from the Final Judgment, filed on September 23, 2016, in the Circuit Court of the First Circuit.
HRS § 641-1(a) (1993 & Supp. 2015) authorizes appeals from final judgments, orders, or decrees. Appeals under HRS § 641-1 “shall be taken in the manner ․ provided by the rules of court.” HRS § 641-1(c). Rule 58 of the Hawai‘i Rules of Civil Procedure (HRCP) requires that “[e]very judgment shall be set forth on a separate document.” The Supreme Court of Hawai‘i has held that “[a]n appeal may be taken ․ only after the orders have been reduced to a judgment and the judgment has been entered in favor of and against the appropriate parties pursuant to HRCP [Rule] 58[.]” Jenkins v. Cades Schutte Fleming & Wright, 76 Hawai‘i 115, 119, 869 P.2d 1334, 1338 (1994). “Thus, based on Jenkins and HRCP Rule 58, an order is not appealable, even if it resolves all claims against the parties, until it has been reduced to a separate judgment.” Carlisle v. One (1) Boat, 119 Hawai‘i 245, 254, 195 P.3d 1177, 1186 (2008).
Jenkins, 76 Hawai‘i at 119, 869 P.2d at 1338 (emphasis added).
[i]f we do not require a judgment that resolves on its face all of the issues in the case, the burden of searching the often voluminous circuit court record to verify assertions of jurisdiction is cast upon this court. Neither the parties nor counsel have a right to cast upon this court the burden of searching a voluminous record for evidence of finality, ․ and we should not make such searches necessary by allowing the parties the option of waiving the requirements of HRCP [Rule] 58.
Jenkins, 76 Hawai‘i at 119, 869 P. 2d at 1338 (citation omitted; original emphasis). “[A]n appeal from any judgment will be dismissed as premature if the judgment does not, on its face, either resolve all claims against all parties or contain the finding necessary for certification under HRCP [Rule] 54(b).” Id. (original emphasis).
The September 23, 2016 Final Judgment did not, on its face: identify Appellant's claims and resolve them in favor of Bishop Estate and against Appellant: resolve Bishop Estate's third-party claims against Goto Construction in favor of and against particular parties; identify Goto Construction's counterclaim against Bishop Estate or resolve the counterclaim in favor of and against particular parties; or dismiss all remaining claims, third-party claims, or counterclaims as to all parties.
The September 23, 2016 Final Judgment is not a final appealable judgment or order because it does not comply with HRCP Rule 58 and Jenkins, and this court lacks appellate jurisdiction over the appeal.
Therefore, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the appeal is dismissed for lack of appellate jurisdiction.

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