Opinion ID: 2599393
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Defendants' counterclaim against Buscher

Text: On May 15, 2001, Defendants moved for partial summary judgment on their counterclaim against Buscher as to Counts II (breach) and III (misrepresentation). By order dated July 6, 2001, the court found that the State did not agree to the settlement, and that there was no valid settlement under HRS § 386-8. The court, however, inexplicably granted Defendants' motion. On July 22, 2002, Buscher filed a motion for relief from the judgment or order on the grounds of mistake, inadvertence, and/or to accomplish justice. By order dated September 13, 2002, the court granted Buscher's motion and set aside its order granting Defendants' motion for partial summary judgment. On April 29, 2002, Buscher moved to dismiss Count I (abuse of process) and Count III (misrepresentation) of the counterclaim, arguing, inter alia, that: (1) because the court found that there was no settlement, Buscher cannot be said to have abused the legal process by pursuing her lawsuit against Defendants; and (2) Defendants failed to state a claim for misrepresentation because they did not allege that when Buscher signed the settlement agreement, it was with the present intent to make a false representation. Following a hearing on June 10, 2002, the court granted Buscher's motion by order dated August 19, 2002. On October 31, 2002, Buscher filed a motion to dismiss Count II of the counterclaim (breach), asserting that without a valid settlement agreement, there can be no breach. The court granted Buscher's motion on January 24, 2003. Judgment was entered in favor of Buscher on March 4, 2003.