Lepere v. United Public Workers, Local 646

NAKAYAMA, Justice.

In May 1990, plaintiff-appellant Thomas Lepere filed a complaint against his union, defendant-appellee United Public Workers, Local 646, AEL-CIO (UPW), in the Circuit Court of the First Circuit, State of Hawaii. The complaint stemmed from UPW’s refusal to submit Lepere’s grievance (against his employer) to arbitration. The circuit court, upon motion by UPW, dismissed Lepere’s complaint without prejudice, with the caveat that if Lepere failed to file a motion for reconsideration by June 8, 1991, the complaint would be dismissed with prejudice. Thereafter, Lepere filed a…