Opinion ID: 2584147
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Concurrent administrative proceedings

Text: Jou's final sub-argument asserts that Judge Hifo reversibly ruled that [Jou] forwent his suit for insurer bad faith by requesting administrative relief under HRS § 431:10C-212. Jou misreads the circuit court's order. The circuit court precluded Jou from reasserting his statutory claims regarding his bill payment dispute with DTRIC in the court proceedings because he elected administrative remedies. The circuit court did not preclude his tort claim. Rather, as discussed supra, the circuit court rejected Jou's bad faith tort claim because he lacked standing as an incidental, rather than intended, third-party beneficiary. DTRIC conceded below that the DCCA did not have jurisdiction over tort claims and that the election of remedies defense, set forth in Moss v. Am. Int'l Adjustment Co., Inc., 86 Hawai`i 59, 947 P.2d 371 (1997), did not preclude the filing of a tort claim for bad faith in the circuit court. The circuit court's holding was not to the contrary.