NOT FOR PUBLICATION
IN THE INTERMEDIATE COURT OF APPEALS
OF THE STATE OF HAWAI`I
BETSILL BROTHERS CONSTRUCTION, INC., Plaintiff-Appellee, v.
JAMES AKAHI, also known as "MAJESTY AKAHI NUI", also known as
"TRUSTEE OF THE
KINGDOM OF HAWAII NATION MINISTRY TRUST FOR THE
KINGDOM OF HAWAII", Defendant-Appellant, ROBERT ROGGASCH; JOHN
SHORTRIDGE; SHINEI SHOKAI CO., LTD.; FIRST
AMERICAN TITLE
NSURANCE COMPANY, INC.; JOHN DOES 1-100; and JANE DOES 1-100,
Defendants
APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SECOND CIRCUIT
(CIVIL NO. 02-1-0394(3))
SUMMARY DISPOSITION ORDER
(By: Burns, C.J., Watanabe and Foley, JJ.)
Although Akahi's opening brief, in violation of Hawai`i Rules of Appellate Procedure, Rule 28(b)(4), fails to present any identifiable points of error on appeal other than to say that the trial court's final judgment should be vacated, we nevertheless thoroughly reviewed the record and the briefs submitted by the parties. Having given proper consideration to the arguments advanced and the issues raised by the parties, we conclude that the circuit court properly granted summary judgment in favor of Betsill Brothers. Our reasons are as follows:
1) Akahi was barred by the doctrine of res judicata from challenging the validity of title to the Subject Property. "Res judicata will bar relitigation where (1) the issue decided in the prior adjudication is identical with the one presented in the action in question, (2) there was a final judgment on the merits, and (3) the party against whom res judicata is asserted was a party or in privity with a party to the prior adjudication." Dorrance v. Lee, 90 Hawai`i 143, 148, 976 P.2d 904, 909 (1999) (citation omitted).
In the present case, all three elements were met. First, the issue of title that was decided by the December 9, 2002 Final Judgment is identical to the issue of title that was decided by the March 27, 2001 "Final Judgment and Decree", and the December 11, 2001 "Amended Final Judgment and Decree" entered by the Second Circuit Court in Civil No. 00-1-0157(1), the Quiet Title and Partition (QTP) action. Both issues dealt with who had clear title to the Subject Property.
Second, on March 27, 2001, a Final Judgment and Decree on the merits was entered in Civil No. 00-1-0157(1), the QTP action, which proclaimed that "[u]pon confirmation of the sale and the payment by [Defendant-Appellee Shinei Shokai Co. Ltd. (Shinei Shokai)] of the money due to the other owners, [Shinei Shokai] will own all of [the Subject Property] in fee simple absolute, free and clear of all claims, liens, clouds and encumbrances of every kind". All parties, including Shortridge, were paid by Shinei Shokai, (3) and no one appealed the decision.
Third, Akahi was a party or in privity with a party to the Final Judgment and Decree in Civil No. 00-1-0157(1), the QTP action. Not only was Akahi in privity with Shortridge as his successor-in-interest to the Subject Property by virtue of the July 26, 2000 Quitclaim Deed, but Akahi filed pleadings, made appearances, and was a party in the QTP action.
Akahi's argument that he is not subject to the laws of the State of Hawai`i because he is the Sovereign of the Kingdom of Hawai`i Nation is unpersuasive. This court has repeatedly stated that the governments of the State of Hawai`i and the United States do not recognize either the existence or sovereignty of the Kingdom of Hawai`i. Nishitani v. Baker, 82 Hawai`i 281, 289, 921 P.2d 1182, 1190 (App. 1996); State v. Lorenzo, 77 Hawai`i 219, 221, 883 P.2d 641, 643 (App. 1994); see also State v. French, 77 Hawai`i 222, 883 P.2d 644 (App. 1994). Akahi was and is subject to the jurisdiction of the courts of the State of Hawai`i in this matter.
2) It was incumbent upon Betsill Brothers, when it filed its Motion for Summary Judgment, to demonstrate the lack of any genuine issue of material fact for trial, and that it was entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Betsill Brothers carried this burden by showing that it had clear title to the Subject Property from the combination of the Warranty Deed from Shinei Shokai and the Final Judgment and Decree in the QTP action.
Once Betsill Brothers satisfied its burden of showing that it was entitled to judgment as a matter of law, it was Akahi's burden to show, through affidavit or other evidence, that there was a genuine issue of material fact. Miller v. Manuel, 9 Haw. App. 56, 65, 828 P.2d 286, 292 (1991); Hawai`i Rules of Civil Procedure (HRCP), Rule 56(e) (2004). "If the adverse party does not so respond, summary judgment, if appropriate, shall be entered against the adverse party." HRCP 56(e); see Hawaii Broad. Co., Inc. v. Hawaii Radio Inc., 82 Hawai`i 106, 111-112, 919 P.2d 1018, 1023-24.
Nothing in the record indicates that Akahi opposed the motion for summary judgment. Therefore, Akahi failed to meet his burden of coming forward, "through affidavit or other evidence, with specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue of material fact", Miller, 9 Haw. App. at 65, 828 P.2d at 292 (1991), and Betsill Brothers was entitled to summary judgment as a matter of law. Hawaii Broad. Co., 82 Hawai`i at 111-112, 919 P.2d at 1023-24 (App. 1996).
Based on the ample evidence presented by Betsill Brothers that it had acquired clear title to the Subject Property from Shinei Shokai, and the complete lack of evidence on the part of Akahi tending to show that there was a genuine issue of material fact or that he had a right to the Subject Property, the trial court was right in granting summary judgment.
Therefore,
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the December 9, 2002 Final Judgment is affirmed.
DATED: Honolulu, Hawai`i, June 28, 2004.
On the briefs:
James Akahi
Defendant-Appellant Pro Se.
1. In his answer filed on September 13, 2002, Defendant-Appellant James Akahi identifies himself as "His Majesty Akahi Nui Trustee of The Kingdom of Hawaii Nation Ministry Trust" and states, in relevant part:
. . . .
5)
Majesty Akahi Nui is not a resident of the County of Maui, Island of
Maui, but rather the Sovereign of The Kingdom of Hawaii, domiciled on
Mokupuni O Maui, Ke Aupuni O Hawai`i. . . .
6) Robert Roggasch is a representative of the interests of the Kingdom of Hawaii Nation. . . .
7) John Shortridge is the lawful caretaker of Royal Allodial Patent Grant 2629, T.M.K. (2) 1-2-3:19 Mokupuni O Maui, Ke Aupuni O Hawaii. . . .
2. Unless otherwise stated, Judge Joseph E. Cardoza presided.
3.
John Shortridge admitted to receiving, on March 29,
2002, check number 113993 in the amount of $1,596.76 as his share of
the proceeds for the sale of
the Subject Property. The court's order only required confirmation that
Defendant-Appellee Shinei Shokai Co. Ltd. (Shinei Shokai) pay the other
owners
in order for Shinei Shokai to take title to the Subject Property in fee
simple absolute. The court's order did not obligate Shinei Shokai to
force John
Shortridge to accept the money or require John Shortridge to accept the
money by cashing or negotiating the check.