Yukumoto v. Tawarahara.

OPINION OP THE COURT BY

RECKTENWALD, C.J.

This case presents an issue of first impression: whether health insurers have subrogation rights against third-party tort-feasors who cause injury to their insureds. For the following reasons, we conclude that a health insurer does not have a broad, unrestricted right of subrogation, but rather is limited to reimbursement rights established by statute.

I. Background

A. The Accident

This case arises from an accident that occurred on March 20, 2014, when Gregory Yukumoto was driving his moped in Honolulu. Ruth Tawarahara, who was driving an SUV, attempted to…