[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6549533,"mediaKeyId","5449008-88fb0cb34bb3c77e9cf60f849b9c546e","parentId",5449008,"title","Committee holds executive session on pre‑litigation demand; defers further action","audioSeconds",574,"startMs",1558000,"endMs",2132000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5449008-88fb0cb34bb3c77e9cf60f849b9c546e&start=1558&end=2132","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5449008-88fb0cb34bb3c77e9cf60f849b9c546e/thumbnail_1558000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6549533/Maui-County/Hawaii/Committee-holds-executive-session-on-prelitigation-demand-defers-further-action","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6549533-b02ad97cbb80a2ed4796790d217b6bb5/orig.mp4?Expires=1770992137&Signature=c4vbhmLmrTkLN5SQHE79RUyhQO0Fv351Va2pkui667Jhk7PIQxZLSDn0z~RA~KOuMuWrrD5DaRzLx0j5aotF5-0a~mFR2jXXx7X3YOCvJUgoLvsuPJx4FN1SFKEejrFioIiLBxt3wgqcjUqGOWxLqta4nCAtHKC-XSAH2HgqTxWB-DuLZ1xESwIn9wKtqDDsz0~BiHIxZbVgy2wP5JC~d~bPmTvcDsXAyyw0ROmjFr93xUE4qJu67ygfvHSXvQ5iSgYtVischkcuGi82VZG7tJp3TyVJrGd5Hn9HdkTzh4Vr9b0aJw2VSPS2lnliWP7PRksK4SMxEfd8FIFiCDZG5w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Maui County","date","2025-07-22T00:00:00Z","article","The Maui County Council’s Government Relations, Ethics and Transparency Committee met in executive session on July 22, 2025 to consult with retained special counsel about a pre‑litigation demand from a former county employee. The committee voted 9-0 to convene the closed session and later received a public summary under Hawaii law; no legislative action was taken and the item was deferred.

Chair Nohelani said the item had been scheduled under Rule 7(b) of the council rules and Resolution 25-109 CD1, which required an initial case assessment and litigation-cost assessment from outside counsel. Deputy Corporation Counsel Susan Leiter indicated that special counsel Richard Rand was available and asked the committee to go into executive session to discuss the assessment.

Before entering closed session, staff confirmed there were no oral testifiers. Member Tamara Poulton moved to convene executive meeting under the statutes cited in the agenda; Member Tom Cook seconded. The committee recorded nine ayes and no nos.

During executive session the committee conferred with special counsel and discussed the assessment, which covered the strengths and weaknesses of the claims, settlement options, litigation strategy and the county’s rights and liabilities. After reconvening in open session, legislative attorney Peter Hanano provided the statutorily required summary: \"Your great committee met to discuss special counsel's assessment of the case, which included strengths and weaknesses of the claims alleged, settlement options, litigation strategy, as well as the rights and liabilities of the county,\" he said.

Leiter and special counsel said the matter is in pre‑litigation; details that would reveal legal strategy and valuations were kept in executive session. Committee members were told that if the matter becomes formal litigation the court filings would generally be public unless filed under seal. The committee then deferred the agenda item without objection; it was posted for no legislative action.

The committee identified who attended the closed session on the record and took a short recess before convening the executive meeting. The committee’s summary was provided under Hawaii Revised Statutes section 92-4 as required, and the item will return to committee or full council only if further legislative steps are needed.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Maui County - Government Relations, Ethics, and Transparency Committee (2025-2027) on 2025-07-22 1:30 PM - Jul 22, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","On July 22 the committee entered executive session to consult with retained special counsel on a pre-litigation demand from a former county employee; after the closed meeting the committee received a public summary and deferred further legislative action.","taxTitle","Maui County, Hawaii","taxId",12846,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6549538,"Committee recommends $62,986.66 settlement after errant park sprinkler flooded a home",1044,481000,1525000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5449008-88fb0cb34bb3c77e9cf60f849b9c546e&start=481&end=1525","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5449008-88fb0cb34bb3c77e9cf60f849b9c546e/thumbnail_481000.jpg","/articles/6549538/Maui-County/Hawaii/Committee-recommends-6298666-settlement-after-errant-park-sprinkler-flooded-a-home","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6549538-d1700d6ef0c83d0c4d7e594dc1a15d63/orig.mp4?Expires=1770992137&Signature=CQ~n4lPQbAx0EeY6emeDrdyiPpU9NDin796wq22-RBsB8wxam1uzKoHlmOCkYi9qwz9NXTl92kGV5ZpR4jIhlsm83ZR4NF541sRo9MA6-cSqfUHFteQbOq0lPKaPl6QkZ5v1mNQfX7aW03ijeX~rlDjniyUObyQH9qHNq6RnbhuRKT0CoTWazsvBX0poazkMXDfwlolsX94F1Szmhgi-h1J6GDkSoy06Vu525aR79uThwjtnmp3M45vo2Q3Q8cY5QTPSGTi52aD0NqnaZhQaPcudrUtqtvaWqNEDDD9zrnHssTMnVua2MVQkGK8Ry8D9hybmgQsVxqv3JORI9gNV8A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Maui County Council’s Government Relations, Ethics and Transparency Committee on July 22, 2025 recommended adoption of Resolution 25-141 to settle a property-damage claim filed Nov. 13, 2023, for $62,986.66. The claim alleges a County of Maui Parks and Recreation Department sprinkler at the Central Maui Regional Sports Complex malfunctioned and sprayed water into a nearby home, causing interior damage.

Deputy Corporation Counsel Susan Leiter told the committee the claim was investigated, an expert was consulted and the claimant provided three repair estimates; she said the county was recommending settlement at the lowest estimate, $62,986.66. \"We are asking to, requesting and recommending settlement at the lowest amount, which is 62,986 and 66¢,\" Leiter said during opening remarks.

Pat McCall, director of the Department of Parks and Recreation, said the failure was mechanical: \"the sprinkler head actually broke. It was the internal parts within the sprinkler head broke and it went from a 180 to a 3 60,\" he said, describing how the head began spraying in all directions until the irrigation line was shut off and the head was replaced.

Committee members pressed for detail about how a single sprinkler could cause roughly $63,000 in damage. A member said the claimant reported water entering through open windows and attic vents, and county staff said they had a still photograph showing water reaching the house. Committee members asked whether mold remediation was required and whether the claimant had submitted video evidence; staff said a security-camera video had been referenced in the claim but was not available to them at the time of the discussion and that the written estimates focused on water-damage repairs rather than explicit mold abatement.

Members also asked about steps to prevent recurrence. McCall said Parks’ irrigation section is replacing that brand of sprinkler heads across parks where the same internal-part failure has been identified. On warranty and recourse, staff said the park and its sprinklers are old and any manufacturer warranty likely had expired.

After roughly a 3-minute discussion period and no oral public testimony, Member Yukile Sugimura moved to recommend adoption of Resolution 25-141; Chair Alice Lee seconded. The committee recorded nine ayes, zero nos and the motion carried. The recommendation will be forwarded to full council for final action. Written testimony for the item will continue to be accepted as noted in the meeting materials.","The Government Relations, Ethics and Transparency Committee on July 22 recommended approval of Resolution 25-141 to settle a Nov. 13, 2023 property-damage claim after a broken sprinkler at Central Maui Regional Sports Complex sprayed a nearby house; committee voted 9-0 to recommend the resolution to full council.","actionData","errors"]

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Committee holds executive session on pre‑litigation demand; defers further action

Committee recommends $62,986.66 settlement after errant park sprinkler flooded a home