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Hawaii Questions & Answers
0 Answers | Asked in Domestic Violence and Family Law for Hawaii on
Q: Can I get a TRO against my unborn child's father after threats to my life?

I want to know if I can obtain a temporary restraining order (TRO) against my unborn child's father. About a month ago, he threatened to kill me and my unborn baby. I'm scared for my life and have been hesitant to take legal action, but I feel threatened again. I have witnesses to the... View More

0 Answers | Asked in Divorce, Probate and Collections for Hawaii on
Q: Can I collect owed amounts from deceased ex-husband's estate in Hawaii?

I am trying to collect what was owed to me according to my divorce decree with my ex-husband, who passed away 1.5 years ago. The decree specified that he owes me for a car, a piece of property we were supposed to split profits from, and alimony. His mother is the executor of his estate, and I... View More

0 Answers | Asked in Landlord - Tenant and Gov & Administrative Law for Hawaii on
Q: Is it illegal for a homeless shelter in Hawaii to not provide hot water due to unrepaired leak?

I am staying in a homeless shelter where there has been no running hot water for three days due to an unrepaired water leak. Although the management was informed about the issue, no plumber has come to fix it, and all units in one building are affected. There was an hour when hot water was... View More

0 Answers | Asked in Consumer Law and Libel & Slander for Hawaii on
Q: Can I get a refund for mislabeled banana bread?

I purchased banana bread from a local business that was labeled incorrectly. When I confronted the owner seeking a refund, they refused and called me a scammer, despite my proof that the product was not as labeled. I have evidence of this communication over text. What legal steps can I take to... View More

0 Answers | Asked in Landlord - Tenant for Hawaii on
Q: I'm asking whether I have a legal basis to request a partial rental waiver on my apartment rental.

My condo has extensive remodeling/repair. A water shutoff from 8:30-5:30 on weekdays from February 24 through April 28, and from June 5-10. Compounding the shutoff is the mandatory prohibition of using the plumbing system...no water down the bathroom sinks, toilets, kitchen sink, showers, clothes... View More

0 Answers | Asked in Landlord - Tenant for Hawaii on
Q: what is the law regarding security/surveillance cameras on the property

are tenants or landlords allowed to post surveillance cameras renting an Apartment Complex

0 Answers | Asked in Real Estate Law and Construction Law for Hawaii on
Q: Is it legal to do your own renovation work in Honolulu without a permit for 3 years?

I live in a condo building in Honolulu and the unit above me has been doing renovation work for about 3 years now. He is acting as an owner-builder, so no vendors/contractors are going in and out. It is mostly heavy drilling and loud hammering that is occurring throughout the day, including... View More

0 Answers | Asked in Uncategorized for Hawaii on
Q: Should i pursue litigation with Uber for telling me my vehicle isn't eligible to drive passengers?

Before purchasing my vehicle i chatted with an uber agent and checked on their website and both said the Rivian R1T was eligible to drive passengers in Honolulu. I purchased the vehicle with this knowlege and jumped through all the hoops to drive uber and now they are telling me it's not an... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Tax Law for Hawaii on
Q: Business closed in June 2024, but not filled. S-Corp, owes $85k for GE Taxes owed from 2019 to 2023. Do we still owe?
James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Jan 28, 2025

If your S-Corp closed in June 2024, the taxes owed from 2019 to 2023 are still your responsibility. The closure of a business does not eliminate tax liabilities that were incurred prior to the closure. The state or taxing authority will expect these amounts to be paid unless alternative... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Constitutional Law for Hawaii on
Q: Where does the US Constitution state that members of Congress must vote in person?

Speaker of the House says remote voting by members is unconstitutional, but I can't find that.

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Jan 21, 2025

The U.S. Constitution does not explicitly require members of Congress to vote in person. The relevant provisions, such as Article I, Section 5, grant each House the authority to determine its rules of proceedings. This allows flexibility in how voting is conducted, leaving it to the discretion of... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Tax Law for Hawaii on
Q: Can I lose my share of the house if my ex spouse who owns 1/2 the home gets in tax trouble?

I believe my ex-spouse is behind in his business taxes. What are the implications on our co-owned house that I reside in?

Blake Goodman
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answered on Dec 9, 2024

Yes, the Hawaii Dept of Tax can lien any real property a taxpayer owes. They can only lien up 1/2 the house. Not your share of the house. If they foreclose on the lien (very rare), they would sell the house and pay you 1/2 the net sale proceeds.

Hope that Helps.

Blake Goodman, esq.

1 Answer | Asked in Workers' Compensation for Hawaii on
Q: Please advise if you can help me with my workers compensation case on maui?
Tim Akpinar
Tim Akpinar
answered on Nov 30, 2024

A Hawaii attorney could advise best, but your question remains open for a month. The best thing to do at this point would be to avoid losing further time and simply reaching out to attorneys. It's difficult for attorneys here to reach out to you - this forum is limited to Q & A format - it... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Contracts and Business Law for Hawaii on
Q: CAN I JUST FIND A KIND OF COURT CASE , RATHER THAN GIVING PARTY NAME AND JUDGE? I NEED TO FIND CASE LAW ON A SUBJECT.
Tim Akpinar
Tim Akpinar
answered on Oct 31, 2024

A Hawaii attorney could advise best, but your question remains open for a week. It isn't fully clear what your setting is, whether you are a litigant in court, a student conducting legal research for educational purposes for a school assignment, or you're simply trying to resolve an... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Trademark, Arbitration / Mediation Law, Business Law and Intellectual Property for Hawaii on
Q: An ex-board member is using my trademark event name without my permission. Do I have standing to issue cease and desist

My family started a public event more than 40 years ago and I took over more than 10 years ago holding this event. I just started the process to trademark the event name. An ex-board member is using the event name and trying to hold the same event without my permission. Do I have standing to send a... View More

Sarah Teresa Haddad
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answered on Oct 14, 2024

If the ex-board member learned of the trademark while being a board member, (and the source of the trademark is the family board) and then the ex-board member started to use the mark unilaterally after leaving the board, then you may have grounds to issue a Cease-and-Desist letter. This may be due... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Copyright and Trademark for Hawaii on
Q: If a frame made of acrylic to hold a single comic had MARVEL as part of the frame - would that constitute infringement?
James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Oct 11, 2024

Using "MARVEL" as part of your acrylic frame could potentially infringe on trademark rights. MARVEL is a well-known brand, and its name is legally protected to prevent unauthorized use that might cause confusion or imply endorsement.

If the frame is sold or distributed,...
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1 Answer | Asked in Uncategorized for Hawaii on
Q: How retrieve money and items from someone in the military who wont respond to requests

I recently ended a relationship with someone in the military and the man owes me about $700 and has my belongings. He paid me a small portion of the loan, about $400 of the original $1000 I loaned. He not has stopped responding to communication and will not contact me about getting my items back,... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Sep 25, 2024

It sounds like you're in a frustrating situation, and it's important to take steps to protect yourself and retrieve what’s owed to you. Start by documenting everything—the amount loaned, any payments made, and the value of your belongings still with him. This documentation can be... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Copyright and Intellectual Property for Hawaii on
Q: If a motion picture has joint copyright owners, can one owner unilaterally create derivatives?

without the permission from the other owner? meaning extract individual clips from the motion picture and create new content?

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Sep 21, 2024

If a motion picture has joint copyright owners, one owner generally cannot create derivative works, like extracting clips or producing new content, without the consent of the other owner(s). Copyright law treats joint ownership as requiring agreement from all co-owners for significant changes or... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Uncategorized for Hawaii on
Q: I was overcharged for vehicle by $6k when I was duped into believing that msrp was actually that much more than actual.

Is there any thing I can do? Seems to be fraudulent

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Sep 19, 2024

You may have legal options if you were overcharged based on misleading information. Start by reviewing all the paperwork from the purchase, especially the buyer's order, financing terms, and any documents that show the vehicle's price or MSRP. Compare the price you paid to the actual MSRP... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Civil Rights for Hawaii on
Q: Hello i have a question, the other day police arrested my friend for disorderly conduct while he was just trying to walk

away. 5 of them jumped him started beating him even tho he didnt do anything to them. I started filming it and one police officer told me and his sister to move so we did, couple seconds later she got my phone and came closer again to film it and they arrested her. I asked for my phone back they... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Sep 11, 2024

It sounds like a difficult situation, and it’s important to know your rights in cases like this. Generally, the police can seize a phone if they believe it contains evidence of a crime, but they should provide a receipt for the seized property. You have the right to request this receipt and... View More

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