Akuna v. Stehl
Akuna
Court
Hawaii Intermediate Court of Appeals
Decided
June 25, 2025
Jurisdiction
SA
Importance
46%
Practice Areas
Case Summary
NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI‘I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER Electronically Filed Intermediate Court of Appeals CAAP-XX-XXXXXXX 25-JUN-2025 08:09 AM Dkt. 56 SO NO. CAAP-XX-XXXXXXX IN THE INTERMEDIATE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF HAWAI‘I MEILING K. AKUNA, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. ANDY STEHL and JIM FALK MOTORS OF MAUI, Defendants-Appellees APPEAL FROM THE DISTRICT COURT OF THE SECOND CIRCUIT WAILUKU DIVISION (CASE NO. 2DRC-XX-XXXXXXX) SUMMARY DISPOSITION ORDER (By: Hiraoka, Presiding Judge, Wadsworth and Guidry, JJ.) Self-represented Plaintiff-Appellant Meiling K. Akuna (Akuna) appeals from the District Court of the Second Circuit's (district court)1 May 3, 2023 Judgment, entered in favor of 1 The Honorable Blaine J. Kobayashi presided. NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI‘I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER Defendants-Appellees Andy Stehl (Stehl) and Jim Falk Motors of Maui (Falk Motors) (collectively, the Defendants). Akuna raises three issues on appeal,2 contending that the district court: (1) "erred in giving nominal concern in [Akuna's] case"; (2) "erred on the manner in which the trials were conducted"; and (3) "applied the wrong legal standard in finding [Akuna's] case unmerited." Upon careful review of the record and the briefs submitted by the parties, and having given due consideration to the arguments advanced and the issues raised, we resolve Akuna's appeal as follows. In August 2021, Akuna filed the operative Amended Complaint, alleging that the Defendants committed fraud by selling her a "truck [that] was previously damaged in a rollover accident" that had been represented as being "a new truck." The case proceeded to a bench trial. After Akuna rested her case, the Defendants moved for a directed verdict. The district court ruled as follows, Ms. Akuna, the [c]ourt in this case has listened to the testimony of the witnesses that you've called to support your claim. 2 We note that Akuna's opening brief does not, among other things, include a statement of points of error or arguments on appeal as required by Hawaiʻi Rules of Appellate Procedure Rule 28. We will nevertheless address Akuna's contentions of error to the extent they are discernible. See U.S. Bank Nat'l Ass'n v. Wright, Nos. CAAP-XX-XXXXXXX, CAAP-XX-XXXXXXX, & CAAP-20- 0000364, 2023 WL 4104953, at *2 (Haw. App. June 21, 2023) (SDO) ("[W]e interpret pleadings prepared by self-represented litigants liberally and attempt to afford them appellate review even though they fail to comply with court rules.") (citation omitted). 2 NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI‘I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER Ah, the [c]ourt has also had the opportunity to review the exhibits which were received in evidence. You know, unfortunately the [c]ourt [cannot] see or find any evidence of your claim that the vehicle that was sold to you on April 4th, 2013 was, in fact, a used vehicle as opposed to a new vehicle. Ah, because of that, your claim fails and you have not proven by a preponderance of the evidence the claim set forth in your complaint. So unfortunately, at this time the [c]ourt has no alternative but to rule in favor of the [D]efendant[s]. The [c]ourt is granting the defense's motion for directed verdict. Judgment is entered in favor of the [D]efendants and against [Akuna]. (Emphasis added.) A motion for a directed verdict in a district court trial shall be considered as a motion to dismiss under District Court Rules of Civil Procedure (DCRCP) Rule 41(b).3 Cf. Ontai v. Straub Clinic & Hosp. Inc., 66 Haw. 237, 252, 659 P.2d 734, 745 (1983) ("A motion for a directed verdict [under Hawaiʻi Rules of Civil Procedure (HRCP) Rule 50(a)4] in a nonjury case will be 3 DCRCP Rule 41(b) states, in relevant part, After the plaintiff has completed the presentation of the plaintiff's evidence, the defendant, without waiving the defendant's right to offer evidence in the event the motion is not granted, may move for a dismissal on the ground that upon the facts and the
Case Details
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Status
Decided
Date Decided
June 25, 2025
Jurisdiction
SA
Court Type
federal
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Case Summary
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Case Overview
Case Name: Akuna v. Stehl
Court: Hawaii Intermediate Court of Appeals
Date: June 25, 2025
Citation: Unknown
In the case of Meiling K. Akuna v. Andy Stehl and Jim Falk Motors of Maui, the Hawaii Intermediate Court of Appeals reviewed an appeal from the District Court of the Second Circuit. The plaintiff, Meiling K. Akuna, a self-represented litigant, challenged the district court's judgment favoring the defendants, Andy Stehl and Jim Falk Motors of Maui. Akuna alleged fraud in the sale of a vehicle that she claimed was misrepresented as new despite being previously damaged.
Key Legal Issues
Akuna raised three primary issues on appeal:
- Nominal Concern: Alleging the district court did not adequately address her claims.
- Trial Conduct: Contending that the trial proceedings were improperly handled.
- Legal Standard: Arguing that the wrong legal standard was applied in evaluating her case.
Court's Decision
The court affirmed the district court's judgment, ruling in favor of the defendants. The court found that Akuna failed to meet her burden of proof regarding her claims of fraud. The judgment was entered following a directed verdict motion by the defendants after Akuna presented her case.
Legal Reasoning
Upon reviewing the trial record and the arguments presented, the court concluded:
- The district court had listened to the testimonies and reviewed the evidence presented by Akuna.
- The court found no substantial evidence to support Akuna's claim that the vehicle sold to her was damaged or used.
- The directed verdict was appropriate as Akuna did not prove her case by a preponderance of the evidence.
The court emphasized that a motion for a directed verdict in a nonjury trial is treated similarly to a motion to dismiss under the District Court Rules of Civil Procedure (DCRCP) Rule 41(b).
Key Holdings
- The court affirmed the district court's ruling, concluding that Akuna did not provide sufficient evidence to support her fraud claim.
- The court upheld the directed verdict in favor of the defendants, reinforcing the standard of proof required in civil cases.
Precedents and Citations
The court referenced several precedents to support its decision:
- Ontai v. Straub Clinic & Hosp. Inc., 66 Haw. 237 (1983) - Discusses the treatment of directed verdicts in nonjury cases.
- Ryan v. Herzog, 142 Hawai‘i 278 (2018) - Establishes the standard for reviewing motions to dismiss.
Practical Implications
This case underscores the importance of presenting compelling evidence in fraud claims, particularly in civil litigation. Key takeaways include:
- Self-represented litigants must adhere to procedural rules and adequately present their cases.
- The burden of proof lies with the plaintiff, and failure to meet this burden can lead to dismissal of claims.
- Courts will interpret pleadings from self-represented litigants liberally but will not excuse a lack of evidence.
Overall, Akuna v. Stehl serves as a critical reminder of the evidentiary standards required in fraud cases and the procedural rigor necessary for successful litigation.
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Case Details
Legal case information
Status
Decided
Date Decided
June 25, 2025
Jurisdiction
SA
Court Type
federal
Legal Significance
Case importance metrics
Metadata
Additional information
Quick Actions
Case management tools