Opinion ID: 2633532
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: The Final Report

Text: In late 1999, the Panel submitted a Final Report to the Governor and the Hawai`i State Legislature. Therein, the Panel reported that, from January through June 1999, it had issued decisions in an additional 70 claims, affecting 53 claimants. The Panel found merit in 69 claims, recommending damages totaling $1,536,146.99, and dismissed 180 additional claims from the claims process. As a result of the additional decisions and dismissals, the Final Report stated that, by the end of June 1999, the Panel and its staff had either closed or made recommendations on 53% of all claims, thereby reducing the number of pending claims from 53% to 47%. The Final Report also stated that, at a meeting on June 22, 1999, the Panel had decided to cease its investigation and review of claims in light of the veto of H.B. 1675. Instead, the Panel concentrated its efforts on notifying claimants of the October 1, 1999 notice-filing deadline. As of October 1, 1999, the Panel had received the required written notices in 2,592 claims. The Panel also received from the Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation a written notice, dated September 30, 1999, on behalf of all claimants who had timely filed claims with the Panel but who had not yet filed notices of rejection of legislative action by the September 30, 1999 deadline. The Panel officially closed its doors on October 29, 1999 even though the Panel members' terms continued until December 31, 1999. Three staff members remained through October to answer claimant-inquiries and close the claimants' files.