Awards and Honors

Martindale Hubbell - AV rated lawyer - Best Rating Possible

Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum

AVVO Top Rated Personal Injury Attorney, 10 of 10

ATLA Top 100

Lawyers.com - Rated 5.0 out of 5.0 - Top Rating Possible

National Trial Lawyers - Top 100 Trial Lawyers

Million Dollar Advocates Forum

American Society of Legal Advocates - Top 100 - 2015

Marquis' Who's Who in the World, Who's Who in America and Who's Who in American Law

AVVO Clients' Choice Personal Injury Lawyer

American Society of Legal Advocates - Top 100 - 2017

Best Attorneys in America - Life Charter Member

A recent Hawaii Supreme Court case appears to generally require the existence of basic UM (Uninsured Motorist) coverage in HJUP (Hawaii Joint Underwriting Program) auto policies. See, Willis v. Swain, Hawaii Supreme Court No. 25992 (October 26, 2006). In that case the HJUP insurer (First Insurance) argued that HJUP policies are not required to include UM coverage. In addition First Insurance also asserted that, even if HJUP policies generally must include UM coverage, that their letter sent with the policy stating "[i]f you desire ... [UM] ... coverage[] ... , contact an insurance agent to assist you in obtaining these coverages upon payment of the appropriate premium..." was sufficient to constitute an offer of UM coverage and the insured was deemed to have rejected such coverage if the insured took no action after receiving such a letter. The Hawaii Supreme Court rejected those positions and stated that the letter was at most an invitation to initiate negotiation, not an offer. Furthermore, since the coverage had not been properly offered and refused, Willis's HJUP policy automatically included UM coverage by operation of law and she was entitled to assert her UM claim against First Insurance.

Accident Lawyer Hawaii

William H. Lawson, Esq. and
Amy L. Woodward, Esq.
Century Square
1188 Bishop St. Suite 2902
Honolulu, HI 96813

New client hotline:
(808) 524-5300

Pearl City, Aiea and Waipahu:
(808) 671-7600

Main business phone:
(808) 528-2525

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HI accident news
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Court cases re:
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Lawson Law
Scholarship 2018

Products Liability - Cases & Comment

Jones Act- maritime law and seaman cases

The Constitution Of The State Of Hawaii

Recent Personal Injury and Car Accident News

In Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. v. Superior Court of California, No. 16-466 (June 19, 2017), the U.S. Supreme Court held that a state court does not generally have specific personal jurisdiction to entertain class-action claims by non-resident plaintiffs against a company headquartered outside of the forum state (here Bristol-Myers Squibb was not based in California). In future class action claims against nationwide corporate defendants, it appears that the U.S. Supreme Court is generally requiring piecemeal litigation in each state where a plaintiff was injured, instead of allowing for a single consolidated class action in a single state court lawsuit.

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Accident Attorney - Personal Injury Lawyer Hawaii

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