Jane and John Doe Voters 1-47 v. Cachola ( 2018 )


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  •                                                        Electronically Filed
    Supreme Court
    SCEC-XX-XXXXXXX
    31-AUG-2018
    02:17 PM
    SCEC-XX-XXXXXXX
    IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF HAWAI#I
    JANE AND JOHN DOE VOTERS 1-47, Plaintiffs,
    vs.
    ROMY CACHOLA, as an individual; SCOTT T. NAGO,
    CHIEF ELECTION OFFICER FOR THE STATE OF HAWAI#I,
    in his official capacity, Defendants.
    ORIGINAL PROCEEDING
    FINDINGS OF FACT, CONCLUSIONS OF LAW AND JUDGMENT
    (By: Recktenwald, C.J., Nakayama, McKenna, Pollack, and Wilson, JJ.)
    We have considered the August 21, 2018 amended
    complaint filed by plaintiffs Jane and John Doe Voters 1-47
    (“Plaintiffs”), the August 27, 2018 motion to dismiss, filed by
    defendant Chief Election Officer Scott T. Nago (“Nago”), the
    August 28, 2018 motion in opposition to the motion to dismiss
    filed by Plaintiffs, the August 28, 2018 motion for discovery
    filed by Plaintiffs, and the August 29, 2018 motion to dismiss
    filed by defendant Romy Cachola (“Cachola”).    Having heard this
    matter without oral argument and in accordance with HRS § 11-
    173.5(b) (2009) (requiring the supreme court to “give judgment
    fully stating all findings of fact and of law”), we set forth the
    following findings of fact and conclusions of law and enter the
    following judgment.
    FINDINGS OF FACT
    1.   Cachola was one of two Democratic Party candidates
    for the Office of State Representative, District 30 in the August
    11, 2018 primary election.
    2.   The election result for the Democratic Party race
    for the Office of State Representative, District 30 was as
    follows:
    Romy M. Cachola                  920 (48.2%)
    Ernesto M. (Sonny) Ganaden       869 (45.5%)
    Blank Votes                      120 (6.3%)
    Over Votes                         0 (0.0%)
    3.   Cachola is the Democratic Party candidate who
    received the highest number of votes.
    4.   On August 20, 2018, Plaintiffs filed an election
    complaint against Cachola and Nago.         Plaintiffs contend that they
    are “registered voters in Hawaii House of Representative District
    30.”       Plaintiffs filed a list of their names in-camera without
    seeking permission or leave of this court to file their names in-
    camera.
    5.   On August 21, 2018, Plaintiffs filed an amended
    complaint to include counsel’s electronic signature, which was
    missing from the original complaint.        The amended complaint
    alleges seven counts for relief:
    •       Count I        Cachola’s violations of HRS § 19-3(4)
    regarding election fraud by campaigning
    in a medical facility in which he
    exercises influence over voters’ receipt
    of healthcare
    •       Count II       Cachola’s violations of HRS § 84-12
    regarding confidential information
    •       Count III      Cachola’s violations of HRS § 11-137
    regarding election fraud
    2
    •    Count IV        Cachola’s violations of HRS § 19-6(8), a
    misdemeanor election offense
    •    Count V         Nago failed to preclude tampering in an
    election pursuant to HRS § 11-4
    •    Count VI        Nago failed to comply with the Help
    America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA)
    •    Count VII       Cachola’s violations of the Health
    Insurance Portability and Accountability
    Act of 1996 (HIPAA)
    6.    As against Cachola, Plaintiffs allege that during
    the course of the 2018 primary campaign, Cachola violated several
    provisions of federal and state law –- voter fraud (HRS § 19-3),
    illegal handling of absentee ballots (HRS § 19-6), asking to see
    a ballot (HRS § 11-137), violations of HIPAA, and improper use of
    confidential information by a legislator (HRS § 84-12).   They
    contend that Cachola “coerces and intimidates votes from a
    vulnerable population” and “mingles his residence and campaign
    ‘headquarters’ with a medical clinic operated by his wife[.]”
    They maintain that “[v]oter fraud is Cachola’s primary form of
    political campaigning” -- he intimidates patients of his wife’s
    medical clinic to vote for him in consideration of the condition
    and continuing deliverance of medical care provided by his wife’s
    medical practice, and goes house to house through the district
    seeking absentee ballots in the final weeks of the campaign
    season, just prior to the deadline to submit them to the Office
    of Elections.   Plaintiffs allege that Cachola has admitted to
    these actions in past elections and, as a result, in 2013, the
    legislature amended HRS § 19-6 (Act 235).
    7.    As against Nago, Plaintiffs allege that Nago
    violated his duty under state law by failing to preclude vote
    tampering in an election and failing to comply with federal
    3
    requirements in conducting an election.   They contend that by
    accepting absentee ballots at any polling place on the day of the
    election, allowing absentee voters to vote in-person if they
    claimed a lost or destroyed ballot, and then tabulating dropped
    off absentee ballots after 3:00 a.m. the day after the election,
    the Office of Elections has invited voter fraud, vote tampering,
    ballot stuffing, and disarray in the State of Hawai#i’s
    elections.   They further allege that Nago failed to comply with
    the Help America Vote Act of 2002 § 402(b) by not having a
    procedure for citizens to file a grievance regarding an election
    crime under federal law.   Plaintiffs claim that as a direct
    consequence of Nago’s acts, they were victims of an illegal act
    which changed the results of the election.
    8.    Plaintiffs ask this court to:
    •    order a briefing schedule and allow them the
    opportunity to collect and present further evidence if
    necessary;
    •    order a recount of the ballots of the Democratic Party
    race for the Hawai#i House of Representative District
    30;
    •    order a review of voter registration forms for District
    30 to account for those individuals who are ineligible
    to vote under Hawai#i law –- specifically, review
    voting roles for individuals who were deceased prior to
    the period in which he or she could have voted in
    violation of HRS § 15-4(h)(2);
    •    order an investigation to review the 2018 voter
    registration forms against the patient list of
    Cachola’s wife’s medical practice, and review the
    patient list of the medical practice with the
    submission of “mail in drop off” ballots;
    •    order a review of the Office of Elections’ policy
    regarding receipt, verification, and counting of “mail
    in drop off” ballots to ensure that all votes cast
    using this method were valid;
    4
    •     refer the allegations noted in the complaint to the
    Hawai#i State Office of the Attorney General for
    prosecution;
    •     refer the allegations noted in the complaint to the
    Federal Bureau of Investigations or another appropriate
    federal agency for violations of 18 U.S.C. § 594
    regarding the intimidation of voters;
    •     refer the allegations noted in the complaint to the
    State of Hawai#i Department of Health or another
    appropriate agency for investigation regarding the use
    of medical records and confidential patient information
    for the purpose of political campaigning, and allowing
    access of medical records and confidential patient
    information to a third-party business associate who
    uses the information for illegal purposes;
    •     refer the allegations noted in the complaint to the
    Hawai#i State Ethics Commission; and
    •     disqualify and remove Cachola from the ballot in the
    forthcoming State of Hawai#i general election.
    9.    Cachola filed a motion to dismiss the amended
    complaint.   Cachola challenges Plaintiffs’ standing to file the
    election contest because their identities have been filed in-
    camera and he is unable to determine whether they are at least
    thirty registered voters from Hawai#i House District 30 to
    satisfy the requirements of HRS § 11-172.   Cachola also argues
    that the amended complaint fails to present any evidence of
    “errors, mistakes, or irregularities”, or any other such basis,
    such as “provable fraud, overages, or underages” that could cause
    a difference in the election result as mandated under HRS § 11-
    172, and that the remedies requested by Plaintiffs are improper
    and cannot be awarded by this court in a primary election
    contest.
    10.   Nago filed a motion to dismiss the amended
    complaint for lack of jurisdiction based on defective service of
    the amended complaint, on the ground that this is not a typical
    5
    election contest and does not fall within the court’s
    jurisdiction for original proceedings to determine the results of
    an election, and for failure to satisfy the statutory
    requirements to prevail in an election contest.   Nago further
    argues that the remedies requested by Plaintiffs are improper and
    cannot be awarded by this court in a primary election contest.
    11.   Nago contends that there are two defects with the
    election complaint –- (1) the filing of Plaintiffs’ identities
    in-camera; and (2) two omitted or misnumbered and sealed
    declarations.   Nago argues that Plaintiffs improperly sealed or
    submitted for in-camera inspection the list of their names and,
    therefore, he is unable to verify whether at least thirty of the
    Plaintiffs are registered voters as required by HRS § 11-172.
    Nago requests that if this court determines that it has
    jurisdiction over the amended complaint and Plaintiffs are
    permitted to proceed, that their status as voters be confirmed in
    order to determine whether they can properly bring this complaint
    pursuant to HRS § 11-172.   In addition, Nago contends that he is
    unable to review all the evidence because two declarations relied
    on by Plaintiffs are either not included in the exhibits or are
    misnumbered and sealed and, therefore, requests that the
    declarations be stricken or unsealed and made available.
    12.   Plaintiffs filed a motion in opposition to the
    motion to dismiss filed by Nago.
    13.   Concurrent with the filing of the motion in
    opposition to the motion to dismiss, Plaintiffs filed a motion
    for discovery, requesting that this court order Nago to provide
    the court and the parties with discovery so that they may
    ascertain the veracity of the allegations in the amended
    complaint.
    6
    CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
    1.    Pursuant to HRS § 11-172, an election contest may
    be filed by “any candidate, or qualified political party
    interested, or any thirty voters of any election district.”
    2.    Because Plaintiffs filed a list of their names in-
    camera, neither Cachola nor Nago are able to verify whether
    Plaintiffs comprise “thirty voters of any election district” to
    satisfy the requirement of HRS § 11-172.
    3.    HRCP Rule 4(d), made applicable to this election
    proceeding pursuant to HRCP Rule 81(b)(10), requires personal
    service of the complaint and summons on an individual and, in the
    case of a state official, service on the state official and the
    State, through the attorney general:
    (d) Same; Personal service. The summons and
    complaint shall be served together. The plaintiff
    shall furnish the person making service with such
    copies as are necessary. Service shall be as follows:
    (1) Upon an individual other than an infant or
    incompetent person, (A) by delivering a copy of the
    summons and of the complaint to the individual
    personally or in case the individual cannot be found
    by leaving copies thereof at the individual’s dwelling
    house or usual place of abode with some person of
    suitable age and discretion then residing therein or
    (B) by delivering a copy of the summons and of the
    complaint to an agent authorized by appointment or by
    law to receive service of process.
    . . . .
    (4) Upon the State by delivering a copy of the
    complaint to the attorney general of the State or to
    the assistant attorney general or to any deputy
    attorney general who has been appointed by the
    attorney general.
    (5) Upon an officer or agency of the State by
    serving the State and by delivering a copy of the
    summons and of the complaint to such officer or
    agency. . . .
    4.    Plaintiffs name two defendants -– (1) Cachola, as
    an individual; and (2) Nago, in his official capacity as the
    Chief Election Officer.
    7
    5.    As to Cachola, HRCP Rule 4(d)(1) requires personal
    service on Cachola.    According to the return of service, a copy
    of the amended complaint and summons was served on Cachola at 936
    Kalihi Street, Honolulu, HI 96819, on August 22, 2018.
    6.    As to Nago, HRCP Rule 4(d)(4) and (5) require
    personal service on Nago and the attorney general, assistant
    attorney general, or deputy attorney general.    According to the
    return of service, a copy of the amended complaint and summons
    was served on Nago, though general counsel Aaron H. Schulaner, at
    800 Lehua Avenue, Pearl City, HI 96782, on August 27, 2018.
    There is no indication in the record that a copy of the amended
    complaint and summons was served on the attorney general,
    assistant attorney general, or deputy attorney general as
    required under HRCP Rule 4(d)(4) and (5).
    7.    The Office of the Attorney General, however,
    received an electronic copy of the amended complaint upon its
    filing on August 21, 2018, as reflected in the notice of
    electronic filing.    While electronic service is not deemed
    personal service for purposes of a complaint, in this instance,
    both Nago and the Attorney General timely received a copy of the
    amended complaint and timely filed a response.
    8.    Although the procedure for service of the amended
    complaint and summons was not strictly followed, neither Nago nor
    Cachola were prejudiced.
    9.    Plaintiffs accuse Cachola of criminal actions and
    request that the matter be referred to various law enforcement
    agencies.    These allegations are serious and may warrant further
    investigation.
    10.   In a primary election challenge, however, HRS §
    11-173.5(b) only authorizes the supreme court to “decide what
    8
    candidate was nominated or elected.”
    11.   Therefore, an election contest of a primary
    election pursuant to HRS § 11-173.5 is not the appropriate basis
    to seek relief from these alleged criminal activities.   See e.g.,
    Haw. Const., art. III, § 12 (“Each house shall be the judge of
    the elections, returns and qualifications of its own members and
    shall have, for misconduct, disorderly behavior or neglect of
    duty of any member, power to punish such member by censure or,
    upon a two-thirds vote of all the members to which such house is
    entitled, by suspension or expulsion of such member.”); HRS § 11-
    173.5(b) (the sole remedy that the court may provide in an
    election contest is “decid[ing] what candidate was nominated or
    elected”).
    12.   Also, a complaint challenging the results of a
    primary election fails to state a claim unless the plaintiff
    demonstrates errors, mistakes or irregularities that would change
    the outcome of the election.   See HRS § 11-172 (2009); Tataii v.
    Cronin, 119 Hawai#i 337, 339, 
    198 P.3d 124
    , 126 (2008); Akaka v.
    Yoshina, 84 Hawai#i 383, 387, 
    935 P.2d 98
    , 102 (1997); Funakoshi
    v. King, 
    65 Haw. 312
    , 317, 
    651 P.2d 912
    , 915 (1982); Elkins v.
    Ariyoshi, 
    56 Haw. 47
    , 48, 
    527 P.2d 236
    , 237 (1974).
    13.   A plaintiff challenging a primary election must
    show that he or she has actual information of mistakes or errors
    sufficient to change the election result.   Tataii, 119 Hawai#i at
    
    339, 198 P.3d at 126
    ; Akaka, 84 Hawai#i at 
    388, 935 P.2d at 103
    ;
    
    Funakoshi, 65 Haw. at 316-317
    , 651 P.2d at 915.
    14.   In order for a complaint to be legally sufficient,
    it must “show[] that the specific acts and conduct . . .
    complained of would have had the effect of changing the results
    9
    of the primary election.”       
    Elkins, 56 Haw. at 49
    , 527 P.2d at
    237.
    15.   An election contest cannot be based upon mere
    belief or indefinite information.         Tataii, 119 Hawai#i at 
    339, 198 P.3d at 126
    ; Akaka, 84 Hawai#i at 
    387-388, 935 P.2d at 102
    -
    103.
    16.   When reviewing a motion to dismiss a complaint for
    failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted, the
    court must accept plaintiff’s allegations as true and view them
    in the light most favorable to the plaintiff; dismissal is proper
    only if it appears beyond doubt that the plaintiff can prove no
    set of facts in support of his or her claim that would entitle
    him or her to relief.      AFL Hotel & Restaurant Workers Health &
    Welfare Trust Fund v. Bosque, 110 Hawai#i 318, 321, 
    132 P.3d 1229
    , 1232 (2006).
    17.   Taking Plaintiffs’ allegations as true and viewing
    them in the light most favorable to them, it appears that
    Plaintiffs’ allegations of election fraud or vote tampering are
    not sufficient to constitute mistakes or errors that would change
    the results of the election for the Office of State
    Representative, District 30.8
    18.   This conclusion is further supported by the motion
    for discovery, in which Plaintiffs acknowledge that they need
    discovery from the Office of Elections so that the veracity of
    8
    Although Plaintiffs submitted two declarations of Plaintiffs, the
    declarations were submitted in-camera without the court’s permission and Nago
    and Cachola have been unable to review the documents. Nevertheless, the
    declarations as written do not provide sufficient information for this court
    to grant the requested relief in a primary election contest filed pursuant to
    HRS §§ 11-172 and 11-173.5. The declarations provide information from two
    individuals regarding Cachola’s alleged actions and regarding absentee
    ballots.
    10
    their allegations may be verified and that they do not have a
    duty to investigate crime.   Plaintiffs’ allegations that Nago had
    a system in place regarding absentee ballots that invited vote
    tampering or denied access to filing of a complaint does not
    amount to actual evidence proving voter fraud or other error or
    misconduct that could have caused a difference between Cachola’s
    vote count (920 votes) and Ganaden’s vote count (869 votes).     It
    appears that there is a system in place, governed by statute and
    administrative rules, in the oversight, handling and processing
    of absentee ballots on election day, as well as preventing the
    possibility of double voting by absentee mail voters.   See HRS
    § 15-9; HAR § 3-174-13; HRS § 16-43.   Plaintiffs fail to
    establish that the process undertaken by the Office of Elections
    on the day of the primary election constitutes errors, mistakes,
    or irregularities that would change the outcome of the election.
    19.   The remedy provided by HRS § 11-173.5(b) of having
    the court decide which candidate was nominated or elected is the
    only remedy that can be given for primary election irregularities
    challenged pursuant to HRS § 11-173.5.   
    Funakoshi, 65 Haw. at 316
    , 651 P.2d at 914.
    20.   Ordering a briefing schedule and allowing
    Plaintiffs to collect and present further evidence, ordering a
    recount of the ballots in District 30, ordering the review of
    voter registration forms for District 30 to verify that deceased
    voters have not voted, ordering an investigation to review 2018
    voter registration forms against the patient list of Cachola’s
    wife’s medical practice, reviewing the Office of Elections’
    policy regarding the receipt, verification and counting of mail
    or drop off ballots to ensure all votes cast using this method
    11
    were valid, and referring Plaintiffs’ allegations of wrongdoing
    to the Office of the Attorney General, the Federal Bureau of
    Investigation, the Department of Health, and the State Ethics
    Commission are not remedies provided by HRS § 11-173.5(b) (“The
    judgment shall decide what candidate was nominated or
    elected[.]”).
    21.    Therefore, the amended complaint fails to state
    claims upon which relief can be granted.
    JUDGMENT
    Based upon the foregoing findings of fact and
    conclusions of law, judgment is entered dismissing the amended
    complaint.   The dismissal of this election contest does not
    preclude Plaintiffs from seeking other courses of action deemed
    appropriate.    Romy M. Cachola received the highest number of
    votes and his name shall be placed on the ballot as the
    Democratic Party candidate for the Office of State
    Representative, District 30 for the 2018 general election.
    The clerk of the supreme court shall also forthwith
    serve a certified copy of this judgment on the chief election
    officer in accordance with HRS § 11-173.5(b).
    DATED: Honolulu, Hawai#i, August 31, 2018.
    /s/ Mark E. Recktenwald
    /s/ Paula A. Nakayama
    /s/ Sabrina S. McKenna
    /s/ Richard W. Pollack
    /s/ Michael D. Wilson
    12