Posted at 3:09 p.m., Thursday, April 12, 2007
Class-action suit over DHHL homesteads will proceed
Advertiser Staff
A class-action lawsuit against the state seeking money damages for past breaches of trust by the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands was certified by Circuit Judge Victoria Marks today.The case will now proceed to trial with a majority of the 2,721 beneficiaries participating in the case permitted to pursue their claims as a class, rather than as individuals.
At issue is whether DHHL and the state breached their trust obligations to Native Hawaiians by failing to place them on homesteads in a prompt manner, and imposing rules that made it more difficult for Native Hawaiians to benefit from the program.
Some of the class members have died waiting, said attorneys Carl Varady and Tom Grande.
Trial is set to begin Oct. 1.
