Scutt v. Maui Memorial Hospital

NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
Electronically Filed
Intermediate Court of Appeals
CAAP-XX-XXXXXXX
29-APR-2021
08:37 AM
Dkt. 59 SO
NO. CAAP-XX-XXXXXXX
IN THE INTERMEDIATE COURT OF APPEALS
OF THE STATE OF HAWAI#I
JASON SCUTT, Plaintiff-Appellant,
v.
MAUI MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, Defendant-Appellee
APPEAL FROM THE DISTRICT COURT OF THE SECOND CIRCUIT
(WAILUKU DIVISION)
(CASE NO. 2DRC-XX-XXXXXXX)
SUMMARY DISPOSITION ORDER
(By: Ginoza, Chief Judge, Leonard and Hiraoka, JJ.)
Self-represented Plaintiff-Appellant Jason Scutt
appeals from the "Order Dismissing Without Prejudice" entered by
the District Court of the Second Circuit, Wailuku Division1 on
November 25, 2020. Scutt's opening brief does not comply with
Rule 28 of the Hawai#i Rules of Appellate Procedure (HRAP).
Nevertheless, to promote access to justice the Hawai#i Supreme
Court instructs that pleadings prepared by self-represented
litigants should be interpreted liberally, and self-represented
litigants should not be automatically foreclosed from appellate
review because they fail to comply with court rules. Erum v.
Llego, 147 Hawai#i 368, 380-81, 465 P.3d 815, 827-28 (2020).
Accordingly, we address Scutt's appeal on the merits. For the
reasons explained below, we affirm the "Order Dismissing Without
Prejudice."
1
The Honorable Kirstin Hamman presided.
NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
On June 29, 2020, Scutt filed a civil complaint in
district court against Defendant-Appellee Maui Memorial Hospital.
Rule 12 of the Hawai#i District Court Rules of Civil Procedure
provides, in relevant part:
(a) Answers — When presented; return day. All
defendants shall appear or answer at the time appointed in
the summons, on the second Monday following the date of
service, except where the district judge sets some other
secular day; and should such Monday be a legal holiday then
upon the next secular day.
Attached to Scutt's complaint was a summons, signed by
the district court clerk. The summons stated:
TO THE DEFENDANT:
You are required to file a written answer or appear
before the District Judge of this Court, in the Judge's
Courtroom, on the day and at the time designated by the
checked box on page 2.
The boxes checked on page 2 of the summons identified the Wailuku
Division as the location for the return, and the return day as
"8:30 a.m. on the second Monday following date of service, and
should that Monday be a legal holiday then upon the next Monday."
Maui Memorial Hospital was served on Saturday, July 11,
2020. The return of service was filed in the district court on
July 16, 2020. Scutt was electronically notified of the filing
of the return of service.
The return date was Monday, July 20, 2020. The case
was called. Scutt was not present. No attorney for Maui
Memorial Hospital was present. The district court's minutes
indicate the case was dismissed without prejudice.
Scutt's notice of appeal was filed on July 21, 2020.
On October 16, 2020, we temporarily remanded the case to the
district court for entry of a written order as required by Hawaii
Revised Statutes (HRS) § 641-1(a) (2016), pursuant to Waikiki v.
Ho#omaka Vill. Ass'n of Apartment Owners, 140 Hawai#i 197, 204,
398 P.3d 786, 793 (2017). The "Order Dismissing Without
Prejudice" was entered by the district court on November 25,
2020. Scutt's notice of appeal is deemed to have been filed at
that time. HRAP Rule 4(b)(4).
2
NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
The district court had inherent power to dismiss the
case for want of prosecution. See Compass Dev., Inc. v. Blevins,
10 Haw. App. 388, 393, 876 P.2d 1335, 1338 (1994); HRS § 604-7(e)
(2016). Scutt's opening brief presents no argument about why the
district court's dismissal without prejudice was improper. The
"Order Dismissing Without Prejudice" is affirmed.
DATED: Honolulu, Hawai#i, April 29, 2021.
On the briefs:
/s/ Lisa M. Ginoza
Jason Scutt, Chief Judge
Self-represented
Plaintiff-Appellant. /s/ Katherine G. Leonard
Associate Judge
Edquon Lee,
for Defendant-Appellee. /s/ Keith K. Hiraoka
Associate Judge
3