Credit Associates of Maui, Ltd. v. Montilliano

OPINION OF THE COURT OF

MARUMOTO, J.

Plaintiff is a collection agency licensed under HRS c. 443. It brought an action against defendants in the Wailuku district court to collect five assigned accounts totaling $193.96.

To the action, defendants interposed a motion to dismiss on the ground that plaintiff was engaged in unlawful practice of law. This raised the issue of plaintiff’s standing to sue. The district magistrate granted the motion after holding a hearing which was limited to the taking of evidence and consideration of arguments on that issue and which did not touch upon the merits of…