Opinion ID: 4516286
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Pleadings and pre-trial

Text: On November 13, 2009, Mobley filed a complaint against Ching and Kimura, alleging their negligence caused him injuries. Mobley alleged the 2005 accident caused pain in his neck, back, and shoulder; numbness in his hands and leg; and headaches. He also claimed he was no longer able to run or march with his 9  FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST’S HAWAIʻI REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER  students. He alleged the 2008 accident aggravated his injuries from the 2005 accident. Mobley’s complaint also asserted his claims against Ching and Kimura were exempted from the abolition of tort liability because he met the required “medical threshold” and had “permanent injury and significant loss of use of a body part and function and continues to require medical attention.” Ching’s December 10, 2009 answer asserted Mobley’s complaint was barred by HRS § 431:10C (sometimes “no-fault law”). Ching later admitted liability for the 2005 accident, but disputed causation of Mobley’s injuries and the nature and extent of Mobley’s damages. On March 3, 2010, Kimura answered, also alleging Mobley’s complaint was barred by HRS § 431:10C. Kimura also filed a third-party complaint against Espaniola, which was not served until September 24, 2010. Ching, Kimura, and Espaniola then filed claims against each other, but Mobley did not “amend over” to assert a direct claim against Espaniola.6 On June 13, 2011, Kimura moved to continue the original September 12, 2011 trial date, which had been set before 6 HRCP Rule 14(a) (2000) provides in part that “[t]he plaintiff may assert any claim against the third-party defendant arising out of the transaction or occurrence that is the subject matter of the plaintiff's claim against the third-party plaintiff, and the third-party defendant thereupon shall assert any defenses as provided in Rule 12 and any counterclaims and cross-claims as provided in Rule 13.” 10  FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST’S HAWAIʻI REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER  Espaniola appeared as a party. The circuit court extended the trial week to April 16, 2012, and vacated all previous deadlines.