• Suit, settlement just about the money • Sponsorship or PR move? • State should protect medical marijuana patients
Suit, settlement just about the money
In the article dated Feb. 26, 2014, titled “Former prosecutor can’t deny Bynum settlement,” it stated that I agreed to the settlement in my official capacity. This is totally incorrect. I have always objected to any settlements in this matter. There was no wrongdoing by me, and I believed that the people deserved to hear the truth in a court of law. Instead, Bynum wanted to hide the truth by begging to dismiss this case without a trial.
In error, also, is your statement in the Feb. 27 article titled, “Council may release civil suit details,” where it is stated that I am forbidden from filing another lawsuit based on the same grounds. It’s Bynum, the plaintiff, who is prohibited from filing another lawsuit, not me. I objected to the dismissal, because I felt the people of Kauai should be entitled to hear the truth at all costs.
If the court permitted the trial to continue, it would be at my own costs, not the county. Bynum wanted to not only hide the truth but save himself from paying attorneys fees and costs. That is wrong. The judge’s order dismissing the Bynum case with prejudice was definitely beneficial for me because it meant that Bynum could never file suit against me for these claims ever again and the court saved its resources by not having a lengthy trial that I knew would end up getting Bynum’s suit dismissed anyway. I totally understand the court’s reasoning but for me it wasn’t about the tens of thousands that I spent of my own monies and was willing to spend to expose Bynum’s lies, it was about the people deserving to hear the truth.
For clarification, the county attorney hired special counsel of their choosing with absolutely no input from me. He wasted taxpayer’s monies to hire attorneys that I never requested and one who worked against my interest. The county attorney not only acted against my interest, but also acted against the council, who represents the people, and forfeited the council’s desire and right to have this case decided on its merits.
Neither I, nor the council, could stop the settlement because the county attorney submitted this case to the insurer prematurely and without my, nor the council’s, knowledge. This is highly suspicious, extremely adverse to the county’s interest and has never happened on Kauai. I am glad that the council is looking into investigating the improprieties of the county attorney and his office because there are many that occurred in this case and others.
Council member Kagawa said, “I smell a rat! Thus is a rat!” The council was shocked and outraged when they learned that on the eve before the motions to dismiss were going to be heard, the insurer and Bynum settled. As Kagawa stated, This was a disaster! I agree. On numerous occasions Bynum claimed publicly that he was going to prove wrongdoing and hold me accountable. This is false. He settled the case with the insurer without any admission of liability of any kind by me.
Moreover, Bynum didn’t get one penny from me. This really translates into a case of Bynum suing the county from whom he collects a paycheck as a council member, wasting taxpayers’ funds for the county attorney hiring outside lawyers that didn’t need to be hired and getting an additional lump sum check of insurance monies —without being honest to the people.
This is clearly unbecoming of an elected official and a severe loss of integrity to the people of Kauai. The truth is priceless but in the end to Bynum, it really was only about the money. What a travesty of justice.
Shaylene Iseri
Anahola
Sponsorship or PR move?
I was happy to see that an event destined to raise funds for the American Cancer Society was taking place on Kauai, the Hoedown for Hope Gala.
On the other hand, I was shocked to see that they had Dupont Pioneer as one of their main sponsors, posting their logo right next to Wilcox Hospital’s.
Given that Pioneer is being sued by Waimea residents and that in addition they are suing Kauai, I think that is unacceptable that this company uses the ACS to try to do image laundry. Shame on them. Having Pioneer as a sponsor for this kind of event is an insult to cancer patients exposed to the pesticide-ridden fields.
Joanna Wheeler
Kapaa
State should protect medical marijuana patients
I have taken the time to write my legislators asking them to please pass HB2092 immediately. As a medical marijuana patient on the Big Island for the last three years, with a degenerative condition for which there is no cure, I have found it impossible for my primary care physician to recommend cannabis due to the fact that the Bay Clinic is federally funded and does not care to go against the laws of the federal government.
Because of their fear, I was forced to locate and use the services of a doctor who was knowledgeable in the uses of cannabis, and was not afraid of the local Narcotics Enforcement Division, who does its best to demonize any doctor who dares recommend cannabis to their patients.
Please pass this bill and strengthen the rights of the patients. We have been waiting since the year 2000 for meaningful legislation and protection. There is overwhelming evidence that cannabis is a useful plant for numerous ailments, and the archaic prohibition for-profit stance taken by law enforcement, the prison industrial complex and the pharmaceutical companies, can no longer stand the test of truth.
Sara Steiner
Pahoa
