No. SCWC-20-0000727, Tuesday, February 11, 2025, 2 p.m.

ROLAND S. GUIEB, individually and derivatively on behalf of GUIEB INCORPORATED, Respondent/Plaintiff/Counterclaim Defendant-Appellant/Cross-Appellee, vs. ROBERT S. GUIEB, Petitioner/Defendant-Appellee/Cross-Appellant, and GUIEB INCORPORATED, a registered Hawai‘i corporation, Petitioner/Defendant/Counterclaimant-Appellee/Cross-Appellant, and PACIFIC WELDING AND MANUFACTURING, LLC, GUIEB GROUP LLC, RSG ENTERPRISES, Petitioners/Defendants-Appellees/Cross-Appellants.

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The above-captioned case has been set for oral argument on the merits at:

Supreme Court Courtroom
Ali‘iōlani Hale, 2nd Floor
417 South King Street
Honolulu, HI 96813

The oral argument will also be livestreamed for public viewing via the Judiciary’s YouTube channel at YouTube.com/hawaiicourts and ‘Ōlelo Community Television 55 (olelo.org/tv-schedule).

Attorneys for Petitioner/Defendant-Appellee/Cross-Appellant ROBERT S. GUIEB, and Petitioner/Defendant/Counterclaimant-Appellee/Cross-Appellant, GUIEB INC., and Petitioners/Defendants-Appellees/Cross-Appellants PACIFIC WELDING AND MANUFACTURING, LLC., GUIEB GROUP LLC, RSG ENTERPRISES, LLC:

     Bruce D. Voss, Michael C. Carroll, and John D. Ferry III of Lung Rose Voss & Wagnild

Attorney for Respondent/Plaintiff/Counterclaim Defendant-Appellant/Cross-Appellee ROLAND S. GUIEB:

     Fred Paul Benco of Law Offices of Fred Paul Benco

NOTE: Certificate of Recusal, by Associate Justice Vladimir P. Devens, filed 11/07/24.

NOTE: Order assigning Circuit Court Judge Matthew J. Viola in place of Devens, J., recused, filed 12/16/24.

NOTE: Order accepting Application for Writ of Certiorari, filed 12/19/24.

COURT: Recktenwald, C.J., McKenna, Eddins, Ginoza, and Circuit Judge Viola in place of Devens, J., recused.

Brief Description:

This case involves a lawsuit between two brothers who ran a business together.  In 1991, they registered Guieb Inc., which did business as “Exhaust Systems Hawaii.”  It specialized in welding repairs, and procuring, replacing, and repairing automobile exhaust systems.  Younger brother Robert Guieb was the majority owner at 55% while older brother Roland Guieb owned 45%.  They were the company’s only directors, officers, and owners.

In 2014, Robert established his own entity, Guieb Group LLC, to sell and service mufflers.  Guieb Group used the trade name “Exhaust Systems Hawaii Kalihi-Kai.”  

In 2018, Roland, individually and derivatively on behalf of Guieb Inc., filed suit against Robert.  The Circuit Court of the First Circuit awarded damages to Roland.  Robert appealed to the Intermediate Court of Appeals.  The ICA affirmed in part and vacated in part the circuit court’s decision.  Robert’s cert application presents three questions: 

(1)  Whether the jury should have been allowed to consider a punitive damages award for Roland?

(2) Whether Roland’s unfair or deceptive acts and practices claims under Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes (HRS) § 480-2 (2008) and HRS § 481A-3 (2008) should have gone to the jury?

(3) Whether a fiduciary relationship based on kinship exists?