HONOLULU (AP) — The Hawaii attorney general’s office must pay attorney fees for using last year’s Maui wildfire tragedy to file a petition in “bad faith” that blamed a state court judge for a lack of water for firefighting, Hawaii’s Supreme Court ruled. It seems the state “tried to leverage the most horrific event in state history to advance its interests,” the ruling issued Thursday said. The day after the historic town of Lahaina burned in a deadly August fire, the state attorney general’s office, representing the Board of Land and Natural Resources, filed a petition alleging east Maui stream flow protections established by Judge Jeffrey Crabtree caused the water shortage. “Naturally we paid attention,” said the unanimous opinion authored by Justice Todd Eddins. “The Department of the Attorney General initiated an original proceeding during an unthinkable human event. The petition advanced an idea that legal events impacted the nation’s most devastating wildfire.” |
British fatherGeorge Kirby strikes out a careerBellingham and Mendy to miss Real Sociedad clashThe teen spy who risked his life to save his friends aged just 16WADA invites 'independent prosecutor' to examine Chinese swimmers caseFTSE 100 chiefs claim they are hardBrendan Steele wins LIV Golf Adelaide tournament from fastSpicer, Owusu help Toronto rally to beat Orlando City 2Benteke scores 2 more goals as DC United beats shortPoppy Harlow is leaving CNN after more than 15 years