Painting Industry of Hawaii Market Recovery Fund v. Alm

OPINION OF THE COURT BY

LUM, C.J.

The issue in this appeal is whether a settlement agreement between the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA) and a corporate public works contractor regarding license law violations by the contractor must be disclosed to the public. The answer to this issue turns on whether the settlement agreement is a personal record under Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS) §§ 92-50 and 92E-1. The Circuit Court of the First Circuit ruled the agreement to be a personal record, and precluded disclosure. We reverse.

I

On October 17, 1985, a complaint was filed with the…