Opinion ID: 2654147
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The LIRAB’s Decision and Order

Text: The LIRAB dismissed McLaren’s September 7, 2010 appeal as untimely. The LIRAB concluded that pursuant to HRS § 38687(a) (1985), “[a] decision of the director shall be final and conclusive between the parties . . . unless within twenty days after a copy has been sent to each party, either party appeals 8  FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST’S HAWAI #I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER  therefrom to the appellate board by filing a written notice of appeal with the appellate board of the department.” The LIRAB pointed out that this court in Kissell v. Labor and Industrial Relations Appeal Board, 57 Haw. 37, 38, 549 P.2d 470 (1976) held that the time for filing a written notice of appeal is mandatory. Therefore, according to the LIRAB, it did not and could not construe McLaren’s: (1) June 14, 2010 letter objecting to the DCD’s approval and reduction of his attorney’s fees, or (2) June 28, 2010 request for a hearing as an appeal to the LIRAB of the Director’s June 10, 2010 decision. In addition, the LIRAB found that McLaren’s August 4, 2010 letter expressed his recognition that an appeal had yet to be taken. The LIRAB concluded that the only filing which it could construe as an appeal was McLaren’s September 17, 2010 “Appeal and Notice of Appeal” because it appealed the Director’s decision with explicit citation to the statutory provision, HRS § 386-87, governing appeals. The LIRAB found McLaren’s failure to use the words, “appeal” or “notice of appeal” in his numerous prior filings conscious, deliberate and intentional. The LIRAB dismissed the appeal pursuant to the “mandatory nature of Section 386-87(a)” and concluded, “[g]iven the dismissal of the appeal, the Board does not reach the issue of the reasonableness of the 9  FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST’S HAWAI #I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER  amount of attorney’s fees approved by the Director on June 8, 2010.”