Opinion
23677
June 18, 2002.
APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIRST CIRCUIT (CIV. NO. 94-0556)
On the briefs:
Michael Siqueira, plaintiff-appellant pro se.
Marie C. Laderta, Kendall J. Moser, Deputy Attorneys General, for defendant-appellee State of Hawai`i.
SUMMARY DISPOSITION ORDER
Plaintiff-Appellant Michael Siqueira (Siqueira) appeals from the "Order Denying Plaintiff Michael Siqueira's Motion for Relief from Judgment or Order of Final Dismissal Filed in 1999," filed in the Circuit Court of the First Circuit (circuit court) on August 21, 2000.
The Honorable Kevin S.C. Chang presided.
Upon careful review of the record and the briefs submitted by the parties and having given due consideration to the arguments advanced and the issues raised by the parties, it appears that appellate jurisdiction in this case is limited to whether the circuit court properly denied Siqueira's "Motion for Relief From Judgment or Order of Final Dismissal Filed in 1999" (Motion), which Siqueira filed pursuant to Hawai`i Rules of Civil Procedure (HRCP) Rule 60(b). Therefore, we resolve Siqueira's points of error as follows:
In his opening brief, Siqueira fails to set forth the circuit court's denial of his Motion as a point of error pursuant to Hawai`i Rules of Appellate Procedure (HRAP) Rule 28(b)(4) or argue the point, as required by HRAP Rule 28(b)(7), to be considered by this court. Siqueira's opening brief is confined to what he considers to be the underlying merits of his dismissed case.
(1) Siqueira argues that the circuit court improperly denied his Motion. Siqueira's argument is without merit. The record on appeal indicates that Siqueira failed to meet the requirements of HRCP Rule 60(b) warranting relief from final judgment or order; therefore, the denial was not an abuse of discretion. K.M. Young Assocs., Inc. v. Cieslik, 4 Haw. App. 657, 667, 675 P.2d 793, 801 (1983); Kawamata Farms, Inc. v. United Agri Products, 86 Haw. 214, 252, 948 P.2d 1055, 1093 (1997); In re Hana Ranch Co., 3 Haw. App. 141, 147, 642 P.2d 938, 942 (1982).
(2) Siqueira argues that his ineffective assistance of counsel claim warrants relief from final judgment or order. Siqueira's argument is without merit. Siqueira does not present evidence of aggravating circumstances or that counsel was ineffective as necessary to warrant relief under Rule 60(b)(6). City and County of Honolulu v. Bennett, 2 Haw. App. 180, 184, 627 P.2d 1136, 1139 (1981).
Therefore,
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the August 21, 2000 "Order Denying Plaintiff Michael Siqueira's Motion for Relief from Judgment or Order of Final Dismissal Filed in 1999" in the circuit court is affirmed.