STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3247

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 1846

 

 

 

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Judiciary and Labor, to which was referred H.B. No. 1846 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DISTRICT COURT JURISDICTION,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to increase the maximum claim amount that determines District Court jurisdictions in civil cases from $25,000 to $40,000.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from two individuals.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Government Employees Insurance Company and Property Casualty Insurers Association of America.

 

     Your Committee finds that this measure will increase the parties' and their attorneys' power to choose whether to file a civil case in District Court or Circuit Court if a claim is under $40,000, rather than $25,000.  Parties choosing to file their civil case in District Court could save time and money due to District Court's simpler procedural system.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Labor that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1846, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

 


Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary and Labor,

 

 

 

____________________________

CLAYTON HEE, Chair