Hawaii Legal News Articles & Interviews

Honolulu, HI: Many consumer lawsuits over excessive overdraft fees focus on banks’ practice of reordering withdrawals to maximize what they can charge. The argument advanced by Linda Robinson in Robinson v. First Hawaiian Bank is different and relies on state usury laws. This opens new possibilities in the battle between consumers and banks and may prove to be important as federal financial protection for consumers seems increasingly under siege.

Honolulu, HI: The State of Hawaii is suing Ford, Nissan and Toyota for marketing and selling vehicles with Takata airbags that could potentially explode and cause injuries or death.

San Francisco, CA Next time the restaurant tacks on a “service charge” you might want to ask whose getting that money. If you think it’s a big tip for your waiter you could be very wrong – especially if you’ve just had dinner at the Hilton Hotel in San Francisco’s Union Square.

Los Angeles, CA: We’re just a bit beyond the first anniversary of the first real test of a Wen Hair Loss lawsuit when, in July of last year, a California federal judge tore into a defendant he described as “insolent” for attempting to have the proposed class action dismissed.

Waikele, HI An explosion at a fireworks depot in Hawaii has killed at least four people and left one person injured according to news reports. The explosion happened around 9:00 am Friday morning at the Waikele Business Center. According to a report on MSNBC.com several people may be trapped inside the plant.

Washington, DC Pacific American Fish Co, Inc. of Vernon, California is recalling SHI306 Shishamo 4L 5PC (23-28G) Wild, Pack 4/20TR, Lots 202885-2 & 201011-3, Master Carton information. Based on FDA Import Alert, this type of processing and size of product has the potential to be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum, a bacterium which can cause food borne illness. Consumers are warned not to use the product even if it does not appear to be spoiled.

Honolulu, HI A woman who received a DePuy hip replacement in August 2009 has filed suit against the company who made the device, reports KGMB and KHNL.

Honolulu, HI Two new studies have challenged the previously established link between Accutane acne medication and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). While Accutane, manufactured by Roche, was pulled from the US market last year, isotretinoin is still available in generic form. Accutane is still available in Canada.

Honolulu, HI A motorized glider carrying the owner of Tedd's Flying Adventures Kailua, Kona, and one passenger, Kathryn Grace Moran, 37, of Kailua, Kona, crashed on Wednesday morning killing both people.

Hawaii Kai, HI Two more residents of the Aloha state have filed lawsuits against pharmaceutical company Matrixx, claiming that Zicam side effects have robbed them of their sense of taste and smell.