HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0019.006 2016-2018 IVGREDc
LIAM. 16
Cathy Ferreira C)
316 Ainaola Drive .
Hilo, HI 967201+4
December 21, 2016 ,•-,
ca _-
hi —
Honorable Valerie Poindexter
Chairperson and Members of the Hawaii County Council
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo, HI 96720
Dear Chair Poindexter& Councilmembers:
I am writing in support of Joseph Kamelamela for the position of Corporation Counsel
for the County of Hawaii.
I worked alongside with Joseph for 25 years and served under seven Corporation
Counsels. I first met Joseph in 1990, I was recently transferred from the Family Support
Division, (this Division was originally under the Corporation Counsel) to the Civil
Litigation Division. I was assigned to Joseph as his Legal Stenographer. Having no
experience in civil litigation, Joseph became not only my immediate boss, but my
teacher. I credit my knowledge, expertise and credentials to Joseph.
Joseph was assigned to numerous highway fatality cases. One of particular, was the
Gregory vs. MacDaniels case in 1995. A minor dashed across the Alii Drive in the
direction fronting Kahalu`u Beach Park and received a traumatic head injury. This was a
State Circuit Court case, where the Jury found the County not negligent and the
Judgment was affirmed by both the Hawaii Court of Appeal and Hawaii Supreme
Court.
He also defended Officer John "Masa" Pagay, of the Hawaii County Police Department
in 2000, in the Harolyn Pavao vs. John Pagay, case in federal court. The Federal jury
rendered its verdict in favor of Officer Pagay and that jury verdict was affirmed by
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in 2002.
I learned a lot from Joseph. Over the years, together, Joseph and I were assigned a
variety of cases from Civil Litigation, Claims, Collections and most recently Land cases.
Joseph was the litigator instrumental in settling the Hokulia case for the County of
Hawaii.
Joseph's work was impressive. So much so, that when Corporation Counsel Lincoln
Ashida was appointed, Joseph was promoted to Senior Deputy Corporation Counsel.
141*(1
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Ref. To: ?WOG OG •
Ref. Date int O `��
Chair Valerie Poindexter
And Members of the Hawaii County Council
December 21, 2016
Page 2
Personally, Joseph is a "local braddah" like his stature, he is very generous, kind, loves
to jam on his guitar and sing Hawaiian music and a friend.
No doubt, Joseph always had the County taxpayer's interest at heart. He worked and
fought hard for the County of Hawaii.
Mahalo
411/1
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Cath 6-rreira