Opinion ID: 1250996
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The August 6, 1993 Sanction Order

Text: Appellant complains that the imposition of a sanction, in the form of assessing him $360 toward appellee's attorney's fees, was an abuse of discretion. However, as previously indicated, because the transcript of the August 6, 1993 hearing is not part of the record on appeal, there is no basis upon which to review the family court's findings. The burden is upon appellant in an appeal to show error by reference to matters in the record, and he [or she] has the responsibility of providing an adequate transcript. Union Building Materials Corp. v. The Kakaako Corp., 5 Haw.App. 146, 151, 682 P.2d 82, 87 (1984) (citing State v. Goers, 61 Haw. 198, 600 P.2d 1142 (1979); 9 Moore's Federal Practice ¶ 210.05[1] (2d ed. 1983)). The law is clear in this jurisdiction that the appellant has the burden of furnishing the appellate court with a sufficient record to positively show the alleged error. Id. (citing State v. Hawaiian Dredging Co., 48 Haw. 152, 397 P.2d 593 (1964); Marn v. Reynolds, 44 Haw. 655, 361 P.2d 383 (1961); Johnson v. Robert's Hawaii Tour, Inc., 4 Haw.App. 175, 664 P.2d 262 (1983); Hawaiian Trust Co. v. Cowan, 4 Haw.App. 166, 663 P.2d 634 (1983)); see also Lepere v. United Public Workers 646, 77 Hawai`i 471, 887 P.2d 1029 (1995) (appellant has duty to include relevant transcripts of proceedings as part of record on appeal); Loui v. Board of Medical Examiners, 78 Hawai`i 21, 29 n. 17, 889 P.2d 705, 713 n. 17 (1995) (party has duty to provide appellate court with transcripts). As this court stated in City & County of Honolulu v. Kailua Auto Wreckers, Inc., 66 Haw. 532, 668 P.2d 34 (1983), [i]t is counsel's responsibility to review the record once it is docketed and if anything material to counsel's client's case is omitted or misstated, to take steps to have the record corrected pursuant to [Hawai`i Rules of Civil Procedure ( ]HRCP[ ) ] Rule 75(d)[.] [4] Id. at 533, 668 P.2d at 35. The record reflects that appellant's counsel was inexcusably cavalier with regard to his duty to review the record on appeal. In his affidavit supporting appellant's ex parte motion for extension of time to file appellant's jurisdictional statement, Oki explains that he was unaware of the requirements of HRAP Rule 12.1 and did not see a copy of the rule included with the record on appeal because: This manila packet/envelope was received by your affiant either on August 2 or 3, 1994, however, Affiant, based on his experience with another appeal he handled last year had presumed that enclosed therein was this appeal record and opted to deposit same in [appellant's] appeal file without first opening the envelope to examine its contents; . . . . [After] confirming with the Supreme Court's clerk's office that the opening brief will be due on or before September 10, 1994, I had perceived no urgency to open the envelope and examine its contents at that time. (Emphases added.) Without the transcript of the August 6, 1993 hearing, we have no basis upon which to review the family court's imposition of sanctions, which we therefore leave undisturbed. See Lepere, 77 Hawai`i at 473, 887 P.2d at 1031; Union Building Materials Corp., 5 Haw.App. at 152, 682 P.2d at 88; Tradewinds Hotel, Inc. v. Cochran, 8 Haw.App. 256, 266, 799 P.2d 60, 66 (1990) (court is unable to review asserted errors where appellant has failed to provide transcript of proceedings below).