Opinion ID: 6492448
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Post-Termination Proceedings

Text: While the majority states that “[t]here are no filings in the recor'd from either Yonemori or Petitioner from March 29, 2005 to March 10, 2006,” majority opinion at 10, 229 P.3d at 1075, the record is replete with Petitioner’s and Yonemori’s actions leading up to Petitioner’s March 10, 2006 “Motion for Relief From Judgment Order of March 11, 2005.” The record indicates that DHS filed numerous reports indicating that Petitioner’s appeal was pending. For example, on August 3, 2005, DHS filed a’ report to the court noting that Petitioner’s appeal “may delay the adoption process[.]” On August 4, 2005, RGB’s guardian ad litem filed a report stating that DHS would be unable to proceed with adoption unless Petitioner’s appeal was resolved. The guardian ad litem report also stated that “[the guardian ad litem] ha[s] spoken to [Yonemori], the attorney appointed to represent [Petitioner] ... and [Yonemori] has related that the necessary paperwork pertaining to such appeal should be submitted to the Supreme Court shortly.” Additionally, the record shows that between March and August of 2005, Yonemori recounted that several matters occurred that delayed her filing of Petitioner’s Notice of Appeal: 2.That I was unaware that a Notice of Appeal had not been filed in the case herein. I have only done a few Family Court DHS appeals and in all previous cases, the prior attorney had filed the Notice of Appeal. [[Image here]] 6. That between March and August of this year [2005], I have had four (U) close family members ... pass away. Therefore, I may have been preoccupied and not as vigilant about case details. 7. That the delay in filing the Notice of Appeal was in no way caused by [Petitioner], ivho is understandably quite anxious about this case. (Emphases added.) This was stated in Yone-mori’s declaration of counsel, dated September 27, 2005. 4 The record hlso reflésts that Yonemori attempted to file a Notice of Appeal as she had represented she would to the guardian ad litem. On September 30, 2005, Yonemori attempted to file a Notice of Appeal. However, Yonemori explained that the Notice of Appeal was rejected by the clerk of court, and cited several events occurring in October and November 2005: 2. That on or about September 30, 2005[] I filed a Notice of Appeal in the ease herein. 3. That sometime in October, I ivas notified by [a] Family Court Clerk [] that my cover page was in error and that the documents were being returned to me for corrections. 4. That I waited for the return of the documents and cheeked my court jacket at the Circuit Court on a weekly basis. I did not realize that the documents were returned to me via my Family Court jacket until late November. 5. That my close friend ... passed away in late November and I left shortly thereafter for the mainland to attend his funeral and for sometime [sic] off. 6. That due to the stresses of leaving for the mainland, holidays, and finishing up work for EPIC/Ohana Conferencing, I completely forgot about making the appropriate corrections for this case. (Emphases added.) This was set forth in Yonemori’s declaration of counsel dated March 10, 2006. 5 According to the declaration, the foregoing delays were not caused by Petitioner. Yonemori’s March 10, 2006 declaration explained “[t]hat the delays in filing all papers in this case are due to my irresponsibility and are in no way caused by [Petitioner], who is understandably quite anxious about this ease.” (Emphasis added.)
A report from RGB’s guardian ad litem dated January 26, 2006, stated that “[the guardian ad litem] was able to speak very briefly with [Yonemori]” and Yonemori had related to the guardian ad litem that “[Petitioner] ha[d] been coming to [Yonemori’s] office every week and that the appeal ‘[was] on’.” On March 10, 2006, Petitioner filed a pro se Motion for Relief from the Order of March 11, 2005, pursuant to HFCR Rule 60. Petitioner’s affidavit attached to her pro se Motion for Relief argued that “[c]ounsel assigned by this court remains ineffective to bring this matter to justiee[.]” On March 13, 2006, Yonemori refiled the Notice of Appeal of the Termination Order. On March 15, 2006, Yonemori also filed a Motion for Relief from the Termination Order, pursuant to HRCR Rule 60. On June 2, 2006, Yonemori filed a Motion for Withdrawal and Substitution of Counsel. In support of the motion, Yonemori stated in her Declaration of Counsel that she believed a legal conflict existed with her continued representation of Petitioner due to Petitioner’s ineffective assistance of counsel claim: 2. I am bringing this Motion for Withdrawal and Substitution of Counsel because I believe that a legal conflict exists with my continued representation of [Petitioner], 3. [Petitioner’s] Rule 60 motion alleges in part ineffective assistance of counsel. I am one of the three attorneys who may not have effectively assisted [Petitioner], 4. [Petitioner] verbally executed a waiver of conflict with me at the last court hearing. 5. I do not want to see [Petitioner] prejudiced in anyway [sic] by her waiver and I have spoken to her about the importance of preserving all possible grounds of appeal. [Petitioner] stated that it was not her intent that this waiver be “permanent.” (Emphases added.) In support of her motion for withdrawal, Yonemori indicated that she could not devote time to the case for periods in July, November, and December 2006 and that she was also anticipating a jury trial in early fall of that year: 8.I have just come through a difficidt period and have not had sufficient time to devote to [Petitoner’s] case and to educate myself areas [sic] of law (trust, discrimination, poverty, etc.), which may be important in the Rule 60 motion and possible appeal. [Petitioner] also requires an attorney who will meet with her on a frequent and prolonged basis. I will not be here for two weeks in early July and also for two week periods in October and December. I also anticipate that I will have a jury trial in early fall. Therefore, I am concerned that [Petitioner] would not have accessibility to my legal counsel during these numerous time periods. (Emphases added.) Yonemori further declared that she “firmly believed” in Petitioner’s arguments and asked the court to “appoint[] a competent and knowledgeable attorney” to the case: 9. I have gone through voluminous files and spoken with [Petitioner] on a number of occasions, as well as done research, and firmly believe in the various issues that she has brought up. I do not want to see her rights jeopardized or further compromised in any way and feel that she should be appointed a competent and knowledgeable attorney who will work closely with her and strenuously pursue this case. 10. [Petitioner] is in contact with an attorney (in California, but also still actively licensed in Hawai'i) who has excellent foresight and understanding about this case. I have also spoken with him about the pending Rule 60 motion and possible appeal. It is my recommendation that the court consider appointing this individual as [Petitioner’s] counsel. (Emphases added.) On June 2, 2006, Yonemori also filed a “Specifications on Rule 60 Motions,” which asserted that Petitioner had verbally agreed to consolidate the two previously-filed Rule 60 motions and provided arguments in support of the claim for relief. Yonemori also admitted that her “failure to file a timely appeal and meet with [Petitioner] in 2005, ha[dj unfortunately delayed the resolution of this matter.” After a hearing held on June 2, 2006, the court issued an order on June 26, 2006, finding that “due to [Petitioner’s direct] appeal, this court lacks jurisdiction to act on her Rule 60(b) motion and motion for withdrawal and substitution of counsel[.]” Therefore, the court “[held] in abeyance any ruling on [Petitioner’s] Rule 60(b) motion or motion for withdrawal and substitution unless moved on; and direet[ed Petitioner] and [Petitioner’s] counsel to address th[ose issues] to the appellate court.” On June 28, 2006, this court dismissed Petitioner’s direct appeal for lack of jurisdiction pursuant to HRS § 571-54, stating: [Petitioner] did not file a motion for reconsideration within twenty days after entry of the [Termination Order], as [HRS] § 571-54[] required. Therefore, [Petitioner] failed to perfect her right to assert an appeal under HRS § 571—54[ ], and there is no appealable order. Absent an appealable order, we lack jurisdiction over this ease. (Emphasis added.) Subsequently, on September 28, 2006, the court orally denied Petitioner’s Rule 60 motions and Yonemori’s motion to withdraw. On October 17, 2006, Petitioner, acting pro se, attempted to appeal the court’s denial of these motions. On November 9, 2006, the court issued its written order denying Petitioner’s Rule 60 motions and Yonemori’s motion to withdraw as counsel, concluding, with respect to Petitioner’s March 15, 2006 motion, “that it was not timely filed filed [sic] under Hawaii law,” and with respect to Petitioner’s pro se Rule 60 motion filed on March 10, 2006, that (1) the motion only requests general relief and Rule 60(b) requires particularity ...; (2) the motion fails to provide any new evidence to support a basis for relief under [HPCR Rule 60(b) ]; (3) as to the relief sought, the court afforded [Petitioner] extensive time at trial to present evidence to address all of the issues ...; (3) [sic] the court appointed legal counsels to assist [Petitioner] to the extent she was willing to work with the legal counsels appointed; (4) [HFCR Rule 6] does not permit the court to extend or enlarge the time within ivhich to bring this motion and the court will not enlarge or extend the time within which this motion can be brought; and (5) the time within which to bring this motion had been long outstanding causing delay in the final resolution on the case and this matter-needs to be put to rest[.] (Emphases added.) On January 17, 2007, the ICA dismissed Petitioner’s appeal for lack of jurisdiction under HRS § 571-54, “because [the court] ha[d] not reduced the September 28, 2006 oral announcement to an appealable written order.” On February 6, 2007, Petitioner filed the Rule 60 Motion, from which this appeal was taken. On April 24, 2007, the court orally denied this motion, and filed its order on May 8, 2007. Petitioner filed a Notice of Appeal from the May 8, 2007 order on June 7, 2007.