Despite previous settlement, city tries to deny liability in near-fatal crash involving 4 officers

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - Four Honolulu police officers charged criminally for a crash that critically or seriously injured six people were acting outside the scope of their duties. That’s according to the city, which does not want to be held liable for the alleged actions.

In several civil court filings this week, city attorneys argued the reported chase in September 2021 was not part of a police response but rather, the result of a long-standing feud with someone in the white sedan that later crashed in Makaha. All six people hurt have filed civil lawsuits.

One claim has already been settled for $4.5 million but two other claims are pending, including one filed by attorney Eric Seitz, who represents a teen who was initially paralyzed in the crash.

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Seitz said the denial of responsibility by the city after so much time has passed is outrageous.

“For them to have paid $4.5 million to people who are in the absolutely same position as my client, and now come out and say, your client is entitled to nothing is unethical, unprofessional,” he said.

In a statement, a city spokesperson said after that initial settlement “further investigation has been conducted” by both HPD and the city prosecutor. “As a result of those investigations, both the Honolulu Police Department and the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney have taken steps to hold the officers accountable, which is the basis for the City’s Motion to Dismiss.”

Judges will rule on the city motions at a later date.

The officers’ criminal trial is set for June.