Corporate, Litigation, and Labor & Employment Lawyers

Honolulu and Hilo, HI

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New FLSA overtime requirements have deep impact on Hawaii employers

The new FLSA overtime rules raising the minimum guaranteed salary for the white collar exemption have finally been issued. An estimated 16,000 workers in Hawaii may be eligible for overtime.   In summary the final rule provides: The annual salary threshold for exempt positions will jump from $23,660 to $47,476 (or from $455 to $913 per week), and will be updated...

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Hawaii Employment Law Decisions May 8, 2016 to May 14, 2016 – Jeffrey S. Harris

NINTH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS District court improperly granted summary judgment against Title VII claims based on judicial estoppel, because employee listed claims on her amended bankruptcy petition.  Henderson v. Bonaventura, 2016 U.S. App. LEXIS 8838 (9th Cir. May 13, 2016). District court properly granted summary judgment against claim employer violated collective bargaining agreement, because...

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FLSA Master Class: What's New: September 1, 2016

Targeting those professionals who already possess the knowledge and skills covered in HR Foundations, the Hawaii Employers Council is pleased to announce a course series focused on expanding mid- to senior-level competence in several HR areas later this year. Topics include: FLSA Master Class: What's New in 2016: Joseph A. Ernst, Esq. and Jennifer L. Gitter, Esq.,...

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2016 Hawaii Employment Law Seminar: August 18, 2016

SAVE THE DATE: THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2016 | 7:15 am-5:30 pm HAWAII CONVENTION CENTER Mark your calendars and join us for the most well-attended and comprehensive employment law seminar in Hawaii, presented by Torkildson, Katz, Moore, Hetherington & Harris. This seminar will provide attendees with a thorough update on personnel law trends, including discrimination and...

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Hawaii Employment Law Decisions May 1, 2016 to May 7, 2016 – Jeffrey S. Harris

District court correctly vacated grievance committee award requiring employee to arbitrate statutory wage claims under collective bargaining agreement.  Committee recognized and ignored applicable law requiring agreement to contain clear and unmistakable agreement to arbitrate statutory wage claims.  Requirement applied to labor as well as discrimination claims, because agreement to arbitrate is a waiver of the...

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Attorney Newton J. Chu ‘Driving Force’ Behind New Hawaii Liquor License Law

Attorney Newton J. Chu, a director at Torkildson, Katz, Moore, Hetherington & Harris, Attorneys at Law, served as the "driving force" for a new statewide law designed to streamline the approval process for obtaining a liquor license in Hawaii, according to an article about the law featuring an interview with Chu and Gov. David Ige....

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Hawaii Employment Law Decisions April 24, 2016 to April 30, 2016 – Jeffrey S. Harris

District court did not err by granting summary judgment against disability discrimination claim under California law.  Employer's policy of providing job protection and full pay up to 26 weeks after which disabled employee could apply for benefit for another 26 weeks was a neutral non-discriminatory policy, particularly because employee had taken earlier six month leave...

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Vaughn G.T. Cook Appointed to Hawaii Tax Review Commission

Torkildson Katz is pleased to announce that Vaughn G.T. Cook, a Director in Torkildson Katz's Hawaii Island office, has been appointed to the Hawaii Tax Review Commission.  Gov. David Y. Ige named Attorney Cook to the position. The Tax Review Commission is made up of 7 members.  Using standards of equity and efficiency, the panel...

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Hawaii Employment Law Decisions April 17, 2016 to April 23, 2016 – Jeffrey S. Harris

District court erred by denying claim for pension benefits, because the plan and successor employer had burden to show whether former employee worked enough hours for predecessor's employer affiliates that participated in the plan to qualify for benefits, once former employee showed he worked some hours for affiliates who may have participated.  Barton v. ADT...

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Hawaii Employment Law Decisions April 10, 2016 - April 16, 2016 - Jeffrey S. Harris

District court did not err by ruling short term disability insurer abused its discretion by denying employee's benefit claim as untimely.  Summary plan description ("SPD") did not adequately inform employee he was required to submit his claim within 60 days after his injury as opposed to 60 days after he ceased participating in the company's...

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