HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 096 Draft 01 2002-2004 COUNTY OF HAWAII STATE OF HAWAII
RESOLUTION NO. 96 0:3
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CORPORATION COUNSEL, AND HIS
AUTHORIZED REPRF,SENTATIVES, TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH
THE INDIVIDUALLY NAMEll PARTY, WHO IS AN EMPLOYEE OF THE
COUNTY OF HAWAI`l, TO REPRESENT HER IN THE CIVIL ACTION ENTITLED
GUY B. SHEPARD V, vs. OFFICER L UCIGLE MELEMAI, ET AL.,
CIVIL NO. 02-1-0368
WHEREAS, Officer Lucille Melemai (hereinafter referred to as "Officer
Melemai") is being sued in the case entitled Guy B. Shepard V. vs. Officer Lucille
Melemai, et al., Civil Nu. 02-1-0368; and
WHEREAS. Officer Melemai is being sued in her individual capacity; and
WHEREAS, on May 16, ?003, the Hawaii County Police Commission found
whatever involvement Officer Melemai might have had in this matter was also done in
the performance of her duty as a police officer, pursuant to Sections 52D-8 and 52D-9,
Hawaii Revised Statutes, as amended; and
WHEREAS, the Office of the Disciplinary Counsel of the Supreme Court of the
State of Ilawai`i has rendered the opinion that representation by one attorney of multiple
parties in such actions is improper unless those parties waive the potential conFlicts
involved or unless the governmental entity agrees to indemnify all the individual parties
for all damages, including punitiac damages; and
WHEREAS, the Council of the County of Hawaii finds that the acts alleged in
the complaint, if occurred. were done in good faith and the probability of punitive
damages being adjudged is small; and
WHEREAS, the Council of the County of Hawaii finds that the payment of
punitive damages serves a public purpose because it encourages public service.
minimizes the costs of hiring a cadre of attorneys for the County of 1 ~awai`i and Oftcer
Melemai, and assures that a plainti ff can collect on his or her judgment, if any; and
WHEREAS, the Council of the County of Hawaii further tads that Cor this
reason, it is in the public interest tr. indemnify the individually named defendant, that is.
Officer Melemai, in this action for all damages that may be assessed, including punitive
damages, so that the Corporation Counsel, and his authorized representatives, can
represent the individually named party, that is, Officer Melemai, who is an employee of
the County of Hawaii: and
WI3EREAS, the representation by the Corporation Counsel, and his authorized
representatives, of such individually named party, that is, Officer Melemai, is not an
admission of liability by the Council of the County of llawai`i.
NOW. THEREFOEZE. QE ]T RI~SO[.VED 13Y THE COUNCIL OF THE
COUNTY OP HAWAI'l, that the Corporation Counsel and his authorized
representatives, arc authorized to enter into an agreement with the individually named
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party, that is, Officer Melemai, who is an employee of the County of Ilawai`i, to carrz~ out
the purpose of this resolution, to be executed and provided by law.
BE IT FURTHER RFSOI,VED that the Mayor of the County of;-lawai`i is
authorized to sign the above-noted agreement on behalf of the County of I Iawai`i
pursuant to the I~awai`i CouJlty Charter.
Dated at ~`talo , I~lawai`i, this 4~'~ day of Sept~'~~~ , 2003.
INTRODU ED BY:
COUNCIL MEM~ER:.C0~1NTY.O ~ I-IA~~~.r~.I`I
COUNTY COUNCIL, ROLL CALL VOTE
County of Hawai i
Hilo, Hawaii AYES NOF;S ;1E3S LX
.4RAKAKI X
( hereby certify that the foregoing RESOLUTION was by the CIIUNG
vote indicated to the right hereof adoptc~i by the COUNCIL of F.,LARIONOFr k
the Co~rnty of Ha~3~ai`i on beEt~ ~ X003 HoLSCFIUH X
JACOBSON
ATTEST: REYNOLDS
SAFARIK X
~ / TYLER X
Reference C-325
~i
COUNTY CLERK CHAIRMAN & PRESIDING OFFICER RESOLUTION NO.