Bhakta v. County of Maui

Opinion of the Court by

MOON, C.J.

This negligence action arises out of the drowning deaths of four men, Meghal Shah, Mitesh Bhakta, Bhupendra Bhakta, and Donald Arends [hereinafter, collectively, the decedents], at Ke'anae Landing on the north shore of the island of Maui, Hawai'i (between Pá'ia and Hana). On May 5, 1999, plaintiffs-appellants Dewal Shah (Dewal), Jyotsna Bhakta (Jyotsna), Daxa Bhakta (Daxa), and Cathy Arends (Cathy), the wives of the decedents [hereinafter, collectively, the widows], filed their first amended complaint, individually and as personal representatives of their…