Opinion ID: 2550107
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The City's Motion for Partial Summary Judgment

Text: On October 3, 2003, the City moved for partial summary judgment, arguing, inter alia: The City has properly designated the Kahala Beach and determined that [the Applicants] have satisfied the qualifications for purchase of their respective leased fee interest pursuant to ROH Chapter 38 and the Amended Rules for Residential Condominium, Cooperative and Planned Development Leasehold Conversion (DCS Rules). Furthermore, under ROH § 38-2.4(c) and DCS Rules §§ 1-2, 1-5, 1-7, 1-8, 1-9, 2-3, 2-4, 2-5, 2-10, 2-13, and 2-15, the City has determined that the owner-occupant applicants have satisfied the qualifications for purchase of their respective percentage in the leased fee interest under ROH § 38-2.4 and DCS Rules § 2-4. The Applicants joined in the City's motion. [1] After a hearing on October 22, 2003, the circuit court denied the City's motion, finding, inter alia: 2. The Court finds, upon the record presently before the Court, that the following Defendant Lessees are qualified under the requirements set forth in ROH Ch. 38:(1) Mary Ilma Costigan Anderson, Unit 432; (2) Steven and Heidi Berman, Unit 172; (3) Germaine H. Brennan, Unit 211; (4) Cedric and Patricia Choy, Unit 427; (5) Gerald H. Cutter, Unit 153; (6) Dan Devany, III, Unit 228; (7) Lola Gebauer, Unit 345; (8) Harrison C. and Marguerite Gonsalves, Unit 164; (9) Kathleen Hsiung, Unit 201; (10) George E. and Shirley M. Isaacs, Unit 272; (11) Edward B. Keyes, Jr., Unit 142; (12) Sakiko Kishimoto, Unit 445; (13) Barbara and Jennifer Lau, Unit 224; (14) Wallace and Marjorie Loo, Unit 250; (15) Margaret L. Montgomery, Unit 450; (16) Jean M. Morrell, Unit 451; (17) Dorothy and Ira Nagel, Unit 411; (18) Ruth G. Rand, Unit 305; (19) Marie Ryan, Unit 372; (20) James Shaw, Unit 204; (21) Mary H. Shelton, Unit 248; and (22) Norma Stillwell, Unit 366. 3. The Court finds that Mildred P. Ault (Unit 241) is not qualified, because she owned fee simple property suitable for residential purposes within the City and County of Honolulu that she quitclaimed for no consideration to relatives at the time she applied. 4. The Court finds that William C. Dixon, Jr., and Patricia Dixon (Unit 441) are not qualified, because they owned fee simple property suitable for residential purposes within the City and County of Honolulu that they quitclaimed for no consideration to relatives shortly before the time they applied. 5. The Court finds that there is a genuine issue of material fact as to whether Robert Dupire-Nelson and Darlene Dupire-Nelson, also known as Deborah Dupire-Nelson (Unit 410) meet the qualification requirements of ROH Chapter 38. 6. The Court finds that Daniel Y. and Juliet Lee (Unit 165) are not qualified, because they did not meet the one-year residency requirement under ROH § 38-1.2. 7. The Court finds that Derek Poag (Unit 470) is not qualified because he and his wife own fee simple residential property within the City and County of Honolulu. 8. The Court finds that Katherine R. Randall (Unit 148) is not qualified because she has rented out her unit and thus has not complied with the requirement under ROH § 38-1.2 that the applicant retain complete possessory control of the premises during the period pending legal proceedings to acquire the fee. 9. The Court finds that Charles Spalding (Unit 412) has sold his unit and therefore no longer meets the qualification requirements of Chapter 38. 10. The Court finds that Jeannette J. Warren (Unit 453) is not qualified because she has rented out her unit and thus has not complied with the requirement under ROH § 38-1.2 that the applicant retain complete possessory control of the premises during the period pending legal proceedings to acquire the fee. 11. The Court finds that Henry Paul Weber (Unit 230) has sold his unit to Erik Sterling, and that Erik Sterling may substitute for Henry Paul Weber if he otherwise meets the qualification requirements of Chapter 38. On December 22, 2003, the Applicants filed motions requesting that the circuit court reconsider its findings that Ault, the Dixons, the Lees, Poag, Randall, and Warren were not qualified to participate in the condemnation proceedings. The Applicants argued: (1) the Lees were qualified to participate in the condemnation proceedings based on DCS Rules § 2-14 (2000); [2] (2) the disqualification of Ault, the Dixons, and Poag was inconsistent with the language and purpose of ROH chapter 38; and (3) Randall and Warren were qualified to participate in the condemnation proceedings based on DCS Rules § 1-2 (2000), allowing exceptions to the residency requirement for serious illness, employment requirements, military obligations, and educational sabbatical. The City joined in these motions. Following a hearing on January 9, 2004, the circuit court granted in part and denied in part the Applicants' motions for reconsideration. The motion was granted in part in that [the court] reconsidered its earlier ruling[s] on the City's motions for partial summary judgment. However, after reconsideration and upon further deliberation, the court adhered to its earlier rulings disqualifying Ault, the Dixons, the Lees, Poag, Randall, and Warren.