Michael N. Tanoue

Contact Information

Suite 2000
Topa Financial Center
Bishop Street Tower
700 Bishop Street
Honolulu, Hawaii 96813
Tel: (808) 523-2999
Fax: (808) 523-7885

Education

William S. Richardson School of Law, University of Hawaii, May 1986, J.D.

Honors

Law Review Executive Editor

Author of Law Review article entitled "First Insurance v. International Harvester: Liability for Negligent

Issuance of Drivers' Licenses," 7 U. Haw. L. Rev. 193 (1985)

Corpus Juris Secondum Award, 1985 and 1986

Jiro Takeyama Scholarship

American Jurisprudence Award for Torts Process II

American Jurisprudence Award for Remedies

Best Brief Award for Appellate Advocacy

University of Hawaii at Manoa, May 1983, B.A.
Majors: History and Political Science

Honors

Phi Beta Kappa

Taraknath Das Foundation Scholarship Award for History, 1983

Thomas H. Hamilton Award for Political Science, 1983

University of Hawaii Chancellor's Award for Academic Excellence, 1981-1982

Professional Experience

Director and Shareholder
The Pacific Law Group, Attorneys at Law, A Law Corporation.
Present

General practice of law, including insurance defense and insurance coverage litigation, appellate practice, municipal law, estate planning, probate, and general business law

Division Head, Trials Division
Department of the Corporation Counsel, City and County of Honolulu
1993-1994

Responsibilities included preparing pleadings, pretrial motions, and post-trial motions; drafting letters and other correspondence to the City Council and executive agencies; rendering advice to City employees and departments, including the Honolulu Police Department, the Department of Finance, the Department of Parks and Recreation, the Department of Transportation Services, the Department of Public Works, and the City Council, supervising ten (10) deputies corporation counsel in all aspects of their practice, such as pretrial and trial strategies, settlement negotiations, and appellate work; and consulting with the Corporation Counsel in all legal matters

Research and Appellate Coordinator
Department of the Corporation Counsel, City and County of Honolulu
1991-1993

Responsibilities included conducting extensive legal research; preparing pleadings, pretrial motions, appellate briefs, appellate motions, and extraordinary writ petitions; presenting arguments in federal and state courts; participating in trials and in all aspects of pretrial discovery; and appearing before the City Council, City Council committees, and the Honolulu Police

Commission Associate
Matsui, Chung & Sumida (nka, Matsui, Chung Sumida & Chang)
1987-1991

Responsibilities included participating in all aspects of insurance defense litigation, primarily in the areas of personal injury, property damage, construction litigation, subrogation litigation, and contractual and coverage disputes

Judicial Law Clerk
Hawaii Supreme Court, The Honorable Edward H. Nakamura
1986-1987

Responsibilities included analyzing issues presented in briefs, including extensive research beyond precedent and case law cited by parties; preparing legal memoranda and preliminary drafts of opinions; reviewing opinions for appropriateness and accuracy of text and cited authority; examining procedural and substantive motions; and drafting memoranda and orders related thereto

Case Analyst
Robert Toyofuku (Hawaii Appellate Court Reporter, Inc.)
1985-1986; 1987-1993

Responsibilities included drafting case summaries of Hawaii Supreme Court and Hawaii Intermediate Court of Appeals opinions for publication in the Hawaii Appellate Court Reporter

Research Analyst
Robert Toyofuku (Pacific Law Institute and Hawaii Academy of Plaintiff's Attorneys)
1985-1986

Responsibilities included drafting legislative testimonies and researching legal issues pertaining to tort reform, joint and several liability, and landowners' liability

Additional Law-Related Employment and Activities

Arbitrator/Mediator
Mediation Specialists of Hawaii, Inc.
1994-Present

Listed as one of the panel members of Mediation Specialists of Hawaii, Inc.

Author/Lecturer
Professional Education Systems, Inc.
Hawaii Insurance & Tort Law Update
January 27, 1995, November/December 1996

Wrote about and lectured on topics regarding automobile accident litigation, including Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage issues, Underinsured Motorist (UIM) coverage issues, No-Fault benefits and coverages, and rental car coverages

Contributor/Lecturer
Hawaii Institute for Continuing Legal Education
Hawaii Appellate Handbook Ðp; Second Edition
1988

Drafted sample appellate forms for inclusion in Hawaii Appellate Handbook; reviewed and revised text of Handbook; participated as panel member in seminar

Legislative Extern
Legislature of the State of Hawaii (Sen. Anthony Chang)
Fall 1984

Responsibilities included researching problems with the State tort liability law and proposing alternatives

Other Past and Present Activities

Speech and Debate Judge
Hawaii Speech League
1979-Present

Responsibilities include judging high school debate and speech festivals and tournaments

Debate Coach
Iolani School
September 1994-Present

Responsibilities include coaching debate students at Iolani School

Judge
Hugh O'Brian Youth Foundation
Hawaii State Leadership Seminar
June 1996

Responsibilities included judging high school students in areas of leadership, scholarship, and community involvement

Guest Lecturer
People's Law School
1995-1996

Responsibilities included presentation on aspects of estate planning, wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and living wills to community members enrolled in the People's Law School