Opinion ID: 2635221
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: FOFs And COLs

Text: The [circuit] court's . . . FOFs . . . are reviewed on appeal under the clearly erroneous standard. [ In re Jane ] Doe, [ Born on May 22, 1976 ], 84 Hawai`i [41,] 46, 928 P.2d [883,] 888 [(1996)] (citing State v. Naeole, 80 Hawai`i 419, 423 n. 6, 910 P.2d 732, 736 n. 6 (1996)). A FOF is clearly erroneous when (1) the record lacks substantial evidence to support the finding, or (2) despite substantial evidence in support of the finding, the appellate court is nonetheless left with a definite and firm conviction that a mistake has been made. State v. Okumura, 78 Hawai`i 383, 392, 894 P.2d 80, 89 (1995) (citation omitted). `Substantial evidence' . . . is credible evidence which is of sufficient quality and probative value to enable a person of reasonable caution to support a conclusion. Doe, 84 Hawai`i at 46, 928 P.2d at 888 (quoting State v. Wallace, 80 Hawai`i 382, 391-92, 910 P.2d 695, 704-05 (1996)); see also State v. Kotis, 91 Hawai`i 319, 328, 984 P.2d 78, 87 (1999). In re Jane Doe, Born on June 16, 1994, 101 Hawai`i 220, 227, 65 P.3d 167, 174 (2003). Troyer v. Adams, 102 Hawai`i 399, 409-10, 77 P.3d 83, 93-94 (2003) (some brackets added and some in original). `A COL is not binding upon an appellate court and is freely reviewable for its correctness.' AIG Hawaii Ins. Co. v. Estate of Caraang, 74 Haw. 620, 628, 851 P.2d 321, 326 (1993) (quoting Amfac, Inc. v. Waikiki Beachcomber Inv. Co., 74 Haw. 85, 119, 839 P.2d 10, 28 (1992)). This court ordinarily reviews COLs under the right/wrong standard. In re Estate of Holt, 75 Haw. 224, 232, 857 P.2d 1355, 1359 (1993). Thus, `[a] COL that is supported by the trial court's [FOFs] and that reflects an application of the correct rule of law will not be overturned.' Estate of Caraang, 74 Haw. at 628-29, 851 P.2d at 326 (quoting Amfac, Inc., 74 Haw. at 119, 839 P.2d at 29). However, a COL that presents mixed questions of fact and law is reviewed under the clearly erroneous standard because the court's conclusions are dependent upon the facts and circumstances of each individual case. Id. at 629, 851 P.2d at 326 (quoting Amfac, Inc., 74 Haw. at 119, 839 P.2d at 29) (internal quotation marks omitted). State v. Furutani, 76 Hawai`i 172, [180], 873 P.2d 51, [59] (1994). Allstate Ins. Co. v. Ponce, 105 Hawai`i 445, 453, 99 P.3d 96, 104 (2004). (Some brackets and internal citations omitted.) (Some bracketed material altered.) Thompson v. Kyo-Ya Co., Ltd., 112 Hawai`i 472, 474, 146 P.3d 1049, 1051 (2006) (some brackets in original).