John S. Rhee

Download PDF:

Recent Representative Matters

• Rainbow Dialysis v. Liberty Dialysis  On appeal, defended a State of Hawai'i agency's decision to grant a Certificate of Need to client Rainbow Dialysis to provide much needed renal dialysis services on Maui, where Liberty held a monopoly.
• Rodriguez v. Starwood et al.  Represent defendant in a class action on behalf of hotel beverage and service workers who claim that defendant unlawfully withheld wages by failing to disclose its distribution policies concerning banquet service tips to customers. Briefed a certified question going to the heart of plaintiffs' claims before the Hawai'i Supreme Court.
• Kono v. Abercrombie  Represented a class of public school teachers whose health benefits were threatened and impaired by actions by the state defendants, including the forced transfer of their health benefits funding from their employee benefits trust fund to a less financially sound fund, a violation of the Hawai'i Constitution's "non-impairment" clause.
• Dannenberg v. State of Hawai'i (formerly Everson v. State) Represented a class of retired public employees and dependents denied their health benefits by the Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund (EUTF). On appeal, the Hawai'i Supreme Court issued its landmark decision establishing that post-retirement health benefits are accrued benefits that are constitutionally protected.
• Cruz v. Waipahu Jack Hall Memorial Housing Corp. Represent a class of low-income housing tenants overcharged as a result of insufficient utility allowance credits that are required under HUD regulations.
• Peoria Day v. OSF St. Francis Medical Center  Defended largest hospital system in Central Illinois against claims of antitrust violations and interference with contract, resulting in favorable settlement.
• Taylor-Doyle V. Nelson, et al. Obtained summary judgment in favor of police detective client in case involving Section 1983 civil rights claims.
• Represented Korean conglomerate in real estate litigation featuring breach of fiduciary duty and breach of contract claims arising from joint venture condominium project.
• Dumond v. MFS; Forsythe v. MFS  Defended mutual funds client against claims of excessive fees in violation of Investment Advisers Act.
• Rosie D. v. Romney Won trial victory in major pro bono class action suit in Massachusetts on behalf of Medicaid-eligible children with mental and behavioral health problems.

Practice Areas