Opinion ID: 2515085
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: The Food Pantry approach is most appropriate for this case.

Text: We agree with Sierra Club that the inquiry outlined by this court in Food Pantry, 58 Haw. at 620, 575 P.2d at 879, and further interpreted by the ICA in MFD Partners, 9 Haw.App. at 514, 850 P.2d at 716, is more appropriate considering the facts of this case.
In this case, the circuit court determined that Sierra Club prevailed on the merits of the claim requiring preparation of an EA pursuant to HRS chapter 343 and granted summary judgment in favor of the Plaintiffs. Subsequently, the circuit court conducted four weeks of evidentiary hearings before issuing an order to enforce the judgment requiring an EA and granting a permanent injunction in favor of Sierra Club. The court expressly recognized Sierra Club as the prevailing party, and authorized Sierra Club to file a request for attorney's fees and costs. Moreover, prior to issuing its order, the circuit court stated during the October 9, 2007 hearing on the motion to enforce the EA: In this particular instance, as noted, the plaintiffs have prevailed on the merits, on their claim for an environmental assessment. So it is clear that that has been resolved in this case. That is a decision that was issued by the Supreme Court of the State of Hawaii, the highest court in this state. That is the final decision with respect to the evironment [sic] assessment claim. Later during the same hearing, the circuit court stated: The Court will, therefore, issue an injunction prohibiting further implementation of the Hawaii Superferry project at the Kahului Harbor until the Hawaii Department of Transportation prepares a legally acceptable environmental assessment based upon the applicable Hawaii Administrative Rules and based upon the Hawai'i Revised Statutes Chapter 343. The plaintiffs are the prevailing party with respect to this matter. Therefore, the Court will authorize the issuance of an order for reasonable fees and costs. The plaintiffs are instructed to submit to this Court proposed findings, conclusions, and an order.
DOT and Superferry argue that Sierra Club could not be the prevailing party after Act 2 was enacted, and cite Sole in support. This argument is without merit. Unlike Sole, in this case Act 2 changed the underlying law that ultimately resulted in a final judgment in favor of Superferry and DOT, rather than a change in the final decision in the same case based on application of the same law as was the case in Sole. Sole, 127 S.Ct. at 2195. Additionally, several federal cases provide support for the proposition that parties may be considered prevailing when they have achieved only part of the benefit sought by the suit, including an injunction of limited duration. See Farrar v. Hobby, 506 U.S. 103, 109, 113 S.Ct. 566, 121 L.Ed.2d 494 (1992); Garland Indep. Sch. Dist., 489 U.S. at 792, 109 S.Ct. 1486; Nat'l Black Police Ass'n v. D.C. Bd. of Elec., 168 F.3d 525, 530 (D.C.Cir.1999); Richard S. v. Dept. of Developmental Servs., 317 F.3d 1080 (9th Cir.2003); Young v. City of Chicago, 202 F.3d 1000 (7th Cir.2000); Virzi Subaru v. Subaru of New England, 742 F.2d 677 (1st Cir.1984); Williams v. Alioto, 625 F.2d 845 (9th Cir.1980); Black Hills Alliance v. Reg'l Forester, 526 F.Supp. 257 (D.C.S.D.1981). Accordingly, it was not error for the circuit court to determine that the EA requirement pursuant to HRS chapter 343 was the main disputed issue in the litigation prior to November 2, 2007. As such, it also was not error for the circuit court to find that Sierra Club was the prevailing party in the litigation under the unique facts of this case where the underlying applicable law was changed prior to a final judgment being entered. Since Sierra Club prevailed under the law applicable to the case prior to Act 2's enactment, this court must now consider whether Sierra Club is entitled to recover reasonable attorney's fees and costs from both DOT and Superferry based on the private attorney general doctrine and HRS ง 607-25, as concluded by the circuit court.