Opinion ID: 2626513
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Civil Probate Proceeding

Text: On September 10, 1998, then-Attorney General of the State of Hawai`i Bronster [5] filed a petition in the circuit court of the first circuit, sitting as a probate court In re Estate of Bernice P. Bishop, Deceased, First Circuit Equity No. 2048, alleging misconduct on the part of the five Bishop Estate trustees, including Richard, and seeking their surcharge and removal. Jones and Sellers were the deputy attorneys general assigned to litigate the petition. The Attorney General's office also began a criminal investigation, but established a Chinese Wall between the probate litigation team (including Jones and Sellers) and the team pursuing the criminal investigation (including Goya and Quinn). [6] In the probate proceedings, the Attorney General cited the grand jury indictment against Richard as a ground for his removal as trustee. Richard's interim removal was effected on May 7, 1999. On October 12, 2000, the probate court approved a comprehensive settlement agreement terminating the probate proceedings [hereinafter, Settlement Agreement]. The Settlement Agreement was signed by Richard, and provided in relevant part as follows: 3. Release of Surcharge Claims: Subject to the exclusions and limitations set forth in this Agreement, including but not limited to those contained in Paragraphs 7 and 10 hereunder, the ATTORNEY GENERAL. . . [and Richard] . . . on their own behalf and on behalf of their respective Representatives,[ [7] ] hereby fully release, acquit and forever discharge each other and their respective Representatives from any and all claims, crossclaims, counterclaims and third-party claims (however denominated), demands, obligations, actions, causes of action, liability or liabilities, surcharges, reimbursements or repayments, penalties, rights, damages, losses, interest, attorneys' fees, costs, expenses, and compensation of every kind and every nature whatsoever, whether in law or in equity, whether known or unknown, arisen, arising or to arise in the future and which concern or relate, directly or indirectly, to any or all of the following: a. All claims asserted in the various petitions for removal and/or surcharge of one, more or all of the Former Trustees in Equity No. 2048 including, without limitation, the following: (i) the Attorney General's Response To Master's Consolidated Report On The 109th, 110th, And 111th Annual Accounts filed on or about September 9, 1998; (ii) that certain Petition of the Attorney General on Behalf of the Trust Beneficiaries to Remove and Surcharge Trustees, for Accounting, and for Other Equitable Relief filed on or about September 10, 1998; (iii) that certain Amended Petition Of The Attorney General On Behalf Of The Trust Beneficiaries To Remove and Surcharge Trustees, For Accounting, And For Other Equitable Relief filed on or about August 24, 1999; (iv) that certain Second Amended Petition of the Attorney General on Behalf of the Trust Beneficiaries to Remove and Surcharge Trustees, for Accounting, and for Other Equitable Relief filed on or about November 30, 1999 (Surcharge Claims); and (v) the Master's reports on the 109th, 110th, and 111th Annual Accounts. b. All claims relating to, concerning, involving or arising out of the Surcharge Claims. c. All claims, actions, or petitions (however denominated), which were or which could have been asserted, to remove the Former Trustees as trustees of KAMEHAMEHA SCHOOLS, to seek the repayment by the Former Trustees to KAMEHAMEHA SCHOOLS of any and all compensations, payments and/or other benefits they may have received from KAMEHAMEHA SCHOOLS, and to surcharge the Former Trustees, individually and/or collectively, for any act, omission, decision or other conduct on his, her and/or their part as trustees of KAMEHAMEHA SCHOOLS prior to and including May 7, 1999. On December 22, 2000, the probate court approved the parties' stipulated order of dismissal with prejudice.