State v. DeMello.

361 P.3d 420, 136 Haw. 193, 2015 Haw. LEXIS 294
CourtHawaii Supreme Court
DecidedNovember 2, 2015
DocketSCWC-10-0000173
StatusPublished
Cited by26 cases

This text of 361 P.3d 420 (State v. DeMello.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Hawaii Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. DeMello., 361 P.3d 420, 136 Haw. 193, 2015 Haw. LEXIS 294 (haw 2015).

Opinions

Opinion of the Court by

NAKAYAMA, J.

Petitioner/Plaintiff-Appellee the State of Hawai'i (State) has asked this court to determine whether the Intermediate Court of Appeals (ICA) gravely erred when it held that lost wages may not be awarded as restitution pursuant to HRS § 706-646 (Supp.2006). We hold that HRS § 706-646 permits restitution for reasonable and verified lost wages in appropriate circumstances. Here, the District Court of the Second Circuit (district court) acted within its discretion when it ordered Respondent/Defendant-Appellant Lawrence DeMello, Jr. (DeMello) to pay restitution for wages that the Complaining Witness (CW) lost as a result of DeMello’s unlawful conduct.

I. BACKGROUND

On May 10, 2008, a physical altercation involving DeMello and the CW occurred at the CWs home. As a result of the altercation, DeMello was charged with one count of harassment in violation of HRS § 711-1106(l)(a) (Supp.1996) and one count of trespass in violation of HRS § 708-£15(l) (1993). The district court held a bench trial on December 14,2009.1

At trial, the CW testified that on the night in question, she, her husband, and DeMello had been arguing about the proper care of her husband’s son. The argument escalated into a physical altercation. Eventually De-Mello grabbed the CW by the hair and dragged her about ten feet across her lawn. The CW testified that she experienced immediate, excruciating pain, and that she blacked out. At the close of trial, the distinct court found DeMello guilty of both charges.

At the State’s request, the district court held restitution hearings on August 2, 2010, and September 20, 2010. During the first hearing, the CW testified that in the days following the altercation, she experienced chronic pain in her neck and shoulders, blurred vision, and that she had difficulty standing. The CW also testified that due to her injuries, she was unable to perform her job duties as a hairdresser for a ten-day period. The State entered the CWs hairdressing appointment ledger into evidence. With respect to the ledger, Defense counsel stated:

We will stipulate that [the CW] will say each of these names that are listed on her ledger, that she will say how much she charged, and ... the taxes added, ... and that the total amount is indicated as $1,155.12.
We are not stipulating that this is trae, only that this is what [the CW] will testify to.

At the second hearing, DeMello argued:

[195]*195With respect to the lost wages and therapy, we would argue that that is not applicable to the restitution statute.
[[Image here]]
We would argue that the Legislature, when they amended [HRS § 706-646] in 1998, did not intend to include wage loss and therapy.
And [House] Standing Committee Report Number 683-98, the House stated ... “wage loss was ‘more appropriate’ for the civil arena.”

The district court disagreed. It ordered De-Mello to pay $3,387 in restitution, including $1,166 in restitution for the ten-day period when the CW was unable to work.

On appeal, the ICA reversed. It held, among other things, that lost wages are not a compensable category of restitution pursuant to HRS § 706-646. Accordingly, the ICA vacated the restitution order and remanded for a new restitution hearing.2

II. STANDARD OP REVIEW

The proper interpretation of a statute is a question of law that is reviewed de novo under the right/wrong standard. Gillan v. Gov’t Emps. Ins. Co., 119 Hawai'i 109, 124, 194 P.3d 1071, 1086 (2008).

III. DISCUSSION

HRS § 706-646(2) (subsection 2) provides, in relevant part: “The court shall order the defendant to make restitution for reasonable and verified losses suffered by the victim or victims as a result of the defendant’s offense when requested by the victim.” HRS § 706-646(3) (subsection 3) provides, in relevant part: “Restitution shall be a dollar amount that is sufficient to reimburse any victim fully for losses, including but not limited to: (a) Full value of stolen or damaged property ...; (b) Medical expenses; and (c) Funeral and burial expenses incurred as a result of the crime.” The State has asked this court to determine whether HRS § 706-646 authorizes restitution for lost wages. We hold that HRS § 706-646 permits restitution for reasonable and verified lost wages in appropriate circumstances.3

A. The Plain Language of HRS § 706-646

The plain language of a statute is “the fundamental starting point of statutory interpretation.” State v. Wheeler, 121 Hawai'i 383, 390, 219 P.3d 1170, 1177 (2009) (internal quotations omitted). “Courts are bound, if rational and practicable, to give effect to all parts of a statute and no clause, sentence or word shall be construed as superfluous, void or insignificant if construction can be legitimately found which will give force to and preserve all words of the statute.” Dawes v. First Ins. Co. of Hawai'i, Ltd., 77 Hawai'i 117, 135, 883 P.2d 38, 56 (1994) (citation omitted). Additionally, “this court must presume that the legislature meant what it said and is further barred from rejecting otherwise unambiguous statutory language.” Morgan v. Planning Dep’t, Cnty. of Kauai, 104 Hawai'i 173, 185, 86 P.3d 982, 994 (2004) (quoting Sato v. Tawata, 79 Hawai'i 14, 23, 897 P.2d 941, 950 (1995) (Ramil, J., dissenting)).

[W]here there is no ambiguity in the language of a statute, and the literal application of the language would not produce an absurd or unjust result, clearly inconsistent with the purposes and policies of the statute, there is no room for judicial construction and interpretation, and the statute must be given effect according to its plain and obvious meaning.

State v. Paloma, 62 Haw. 159, 161, 612 P.2d 1168, 1170 (1980) (brackets in original, citation omitted).

[196]*196The plain language of HRS § 706-646

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Bluebook (online)
361 P.3d 420, 136 Haw. 193, 2015 Haw. LEXIS 294, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-demello-haw-2015.