Opinion ID: 6491122
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Dismissal of Counts V and VI of the Second Amended Complaint

Text: On October 16, 2000, Cliffs defendants moved for partial summary judgment with respect to Count VI (injunctive relief). Therein, Cliffs defendants argued that Appellants’ claim for injunctive relief was based on the defendants’ alleged (1) unfair competition in violation of common law and (2) tor-tious interference with prospective business advantage. Inasmuch as the circuit court had earlier dismissed Appellants’ claims of common law unfair competition and interference with prospective business advantage, Cliffs defendants maintained that Appellants were thus precluded from seeking injunctive relief. On October 20, 2000, Swain defendants moved for partial summary judgment with respect to Counts V (unjust enrichment) and VI (injunctive relief). Therein, Swain defendants argued that unjust enrichment “is a remedy and not a cause of action or claim.” Specifically, they contended that “a claim for an accounting and unjust enrichment is a claim for damages, not the basis or justification for the claim.” Thus, Swain defendants maintained that, inasmuch as Appellants’ claims of common law unfair competition and interference with prospective business advantage had been dismissed, “there can be no claims for a remedy of either injunctive relief or its further remedy of an accounting and/or unjust enrichment.” Moreover, Swain defendants contended that, because they had ceased all operations and promotions of tour boats in Hanalei by 1998, Appellants’ “prayer for injunctive relief had actually and effectively [been satisfied] in 1998.” A hearing was held on November 21, 2000 with respect to-the separate motions for partial summary judgment filed by Cliffs defendants and Swain defendants. With respect to Appellants’ claim for injunctive relief, the circuit court stated: [U]nder the law as the [cjourt sees it, [Appellants] must show a clearly ascertainable right in order to have a standing to seek equitable—the equitable relief of injunction. [Appellants] must also show that their claim for injunctive relief does not depend on the existence of a private remedy- Under the circumstances, the [c]ourt does not feel that [Appellants] can do this. [Appellants’] main argument no matter what [Appellants] say[ ] is that [Appellants] got hurt because defendants violated [HRS c]hapter 205A and that defendants^] violations—the violations of the wrongful conduct regardless of what [Appellants] say[ ], [Appellants] cannot use [HRS c]hapter 205A as the basis for injunctive relief or equitable relief under the circumstances. They do not have a private right of action under [HRS c]hapter 205A. Under the circumstances, with reference to the injunction, the [c]ourt will grant the motion for partial summary judgment. The circuit court took under advisement Appellants’ remaining claim of unjust enrichment/accounting. On December 7, 2000, the circuit court entered its written order granting Cliffs defendants’ motion for partial summary judgment with respect to Count VI (injunctive relief), dismissing Appellants’ claim for in-junctive relief as to all defendants. On February 21, 2001, the circuit court entered an order granting Swain defendants’ motion for partial summary judgment with respect to Count V (unjust enrichment/accounting), dismissing Appellants’ claim for unjust enrichment/accounting as to all defendants. The circuit court further found “that the remedy of unjust enrichment is not practical and would not serve the public good.”