AKEE v. DOW CHEMICAL CO.

No. 00-CV-382BMK.

272 F.Supp.2d 1112 (2003)

Linda AKEE et al., Plaintiffs, v. THE DOW CHEMICAL COMPANY, et al., Defendants.

United States District Court, D. Hawai`i.

July 21, 2003.


Attorney(s) appearing for the Case

Raymond J. Tam, Tam & Stanford, Honolulu, HI, Edward L. Masry, Masry & Vititoe, Westlake Village, CA, Walter J. Lack, Ann A. Howitt, Engstrom Lipscomb & Lack, Los Angels, CA, Thomas V. Girardi, David N. Bigelow, Carrie J. Rognlien, Girardi & Keese, Los Angeles, CA, for Linda Akee, Camilo Abalos, Obdulia Abalos, Juliette Akana, Kurumi Kaapana-Aki, Timothy Aki, Chelal Aki, deceased rec Timothy Aki, Timothy Aki gal Uv Aki, Uv Aki, a minor, Bruce M. Beaver, Cheryl Bentosino, Shaylie Bentosino, a minor gal Cheryl Bentosino, Dennis Bentosino, Dathanille Bicoy, Joshua Bicoy, Deceased rec Dathanille Bicoy, Charmaine Bissen, Kenneth Bisen, III, a minor gal Charmaine Bissen, Ernest Cabinte, Patricia Cabinte, Anatalio Cabrido, Donna Cadiente, Andrea Cadiente, a minor gal Donna Cadiente, Tanya Cadiente, a minor gal Donna Cadiente, Stanley Cadiente, Slade Carpenter, a minor gal Lisa Carpenter, Kenwyn Castellano, an Individual and as Guardian Ad Litem for minor child Jermayne Hightower, minor child, Nicole Castellano, and minor child Kealii Castellano, Russell — Castellano, Jermayne Hightower, a minor gal Kenwyn Castellano, Nicole Castellano, a minor gal Kenwyn Castellano, Kealii Castellano, a minor gal Kenwyn Castellano, Gary Ann Cordeiro, an Elijah Iona Cordeiro, deceased rec Gary Ann Cordeiro, Jonah Cordeiro, Earl Danielson, Zelinda Danielson, an Individual and as Guardian Ad Litem for minor child Lyle Santiago, Lyle Santiago, a minor gal Zelinda Danielson gal Zelinda Danielson, Violet Duff, Anna Dunn, Robert — Dunn, Linda Dusil-Lucero, Yvonne Enos, Rose Fagaragan, Brandon Fagaragan, a minor gal Rose Fagaragan, Adrienne Felmet, Hina Felmet, a minor gal Adrienne Felmet, Gary Felmet, Agnes Francisco, Renee Francisco, a minor gal Agnes Francisco, Rose Frando, Thomas Frando, Gregory — Franklin, an Individual and as Guardian Ad Litem for Ryan Franklin, a minor, and as Special Administrator for Christine Franklin, Ryan Franklin, a minor gal Gregory — Franklin, Christine Franklin rec Gregory — Franklin, Charles Freitas, Kevin Fujiwara, Roxane Fujiwara, Milton Gabriel, Shirly Gabriel, an Individual and as Guardian Ad Litem for minor child Heavenly Gabriel, minor child Nakoa Gabriel, minor child Joshua Pulawa, and minor child Preston Pulawa, Heavenly Gabriel, a minor gal Shirly Gabriel, Nakoa Gabriel, a minor gal Shirly Gabriel, Joshua Pulawa, a minor gal Shirly Gabriel, Preston Pulawa, a minor gal Shirly Gabriel, Floretta Galera, an Individual, Ponciano Galera, III, an Individual and as Guardian Ad Litem for minor child Salena Galera, and minor child Sienna Galera, Salena Galera, a minor gal Ponciano Galera, III, Susan Gillespie, an Individual and as Guardian Ad Litem for minor child Ian Gillespie, Ian Gillespie, a minor gal Susan Gillespie, Jake Glendon, a minor gal Christie Glendon, Kyle Glendon, a minor gal Christie Glendon, Michelle L. Gonzalez, an Individual, Nicole Guerrero, an Individual, Pepito Guevarra, an Individual and as Guardian Ad Litem for minor child Heather Guevarra, Estrella Guevarra, an Individual, Heather Guevarra, a minor gal Pepito Guevarra, Kathy Higa, an Individual and as Guardian Ad Litem for minor child Wayland Higa, Ralph Higa, an Individual, Deborah Higashi, an Individual and as Guardian Ad Litem for minor child Janelle Higashi, Janelle Higashi, a minor gal, Deborah Higashi, Steven Higashi, an Individual, Jared H. Higashi, an Individual, Norma Hirokawa, an Individual, Lois Ifft, an Individual, and as Special Administrator for minor child Faith Hiruko, and as Guardian Ad Litem for minor child Jessica Hiruko, and minor child Rebecca Hiruko, Jessica Hiruko, a minor gal Lois Ifft, Rebecca Hiruko, a minor gal Lois Ifft, Lindsay Ho, an Individual, Litia Ho, an Individual and as Guardian Ad Litem for minor child Mandie Ho, minor child Matthew Ho, minor child Melissa Ho, and as Special Administrator of Michael Ho, deceased, Mandie Ho, a minor gal Litia Ho, Matthew Ho, a minor gal Litia Ho, Melissa Ho, a minor gal Litia Ho, Michael Ho, deceased rec Litia Ho, Ikue Hyrne, an Individual, Janet Hyrne, an Individual, John Hyrne, III, an Individual, John Hyrne, Jr., an Individual, Leslie Inouye, an Individual, Gayle Inouye, an Individual and as Guardian Ad Litem for minor child Cody Inouye, Cody Inouye, a minor gal Gayle Inouye, Kenichi Kamimura, an Individual and as Special Administrator for Joyce Kamimura, Joyce Kamimura rec Kenichi Kamimura, Deborah Kaui, an Individual and as Guardian Ad Litem for minor child Shaine Kaui, Shaine Kaui, a minor gal Deborah Kaui, Ralph Kaui, an Individual, Robert Kent, Sr., an Individual and as Special Administrator for Bobbie Kim Kent, deceased, Bobbie Kim Kent, deceased rec Robert Kent, Sr., Myra Kim, an Individual and as Guardian Ad Litem for minor child Robert Kim, Jr., Robert Kim, Jr., a minor gal Myra Kim, Aurenne B. Lanting, an Individual and as Guardian Ad Litem for minor child Alyssa M. Lanting, Alyssa M. Lanting, a minor gal Aurenne B. Lanting, Cynthia Lanting, an Individual and as Guardian Ad Litem for minor child Quinn Lanting, Quinn Lanting, a minor gal Cynthia Lanting, Leslie Lavarias, an Individual, Letioa Leota, an Individual, Lupe Leota, an Individual and as Guardian Ad Litem for minor child Iesha-Vera Leota, Iesha-Vera Leota, a minor gal Lupe Leota, Clifford Marcello, an Individual, Donna Marcello, an Individual and as Guardian Ad Litem for minor child Krislynn Marcello, Krislynn Marcello, a minor gal Donna Marcello, Lynn Marquez, an Individual and as Special Administrator for Angel Lynn Tolbe, deceased, Angel Lynn Tolbe, deceased rec Lynn Marquez, Janis McCain, an Individual, Joseph Miarecki, an Individual, Lynn Nakahara, an Individual and as Guardian Ad Litem for minor child Travis Yamaguchi, Travis Yamaguchi, a minor gal Lynn Nakahara, Gerald Nakata, an Individual, Linda Nakata, an Individual and as Guardian Ad Litem for minor child Brandon Nakata, Brandon Nakata, a minor gal Linda Nakata, Brian Navarrete, an Individual, Inocencio Navarrete, an Individual and as Special Administrator for Felisa Navarrete, deceased, Felisa Navarrete, deceased rec Inocencio Navarrete, Josefina Navarrete, an Individual and as Guardian Ad Litem for minor child Shawn Navarrete, and minor child Kenneth Navarrete, Shawn Navarrete, a minor gal Josefina Navarrete, Kenneth Navarrete, a minor gal Josefina Navarrete, Jeanette Nekota, an Individual and as Guardian Ad Litem for minor child Rhea Nekota, Rhea Nekota, a minor gal Jeanette Nekota, Caroline Nieto, Bernard Obungen, Susane Obungen, Gail Okouchi, an Individual and as Special Administrator for Jennifer Okouchi, deceased, Jennifer Okouchi, deceased rec Gail Okouchi, Herbert Okouchi, an Individual, Craig Pang, Jamie Pang, an Individual and as Guardian Ad Litem for minor child Bryant Pang, Bryant Pang, a minor gal Jamie Pang, Kyoko Patoc, an Individual and as Guardian Ad Litem for minor child Brandon Patoc, and minor child Travis Patoc, Brandon Patoc, a minor gal Kyoko Patoc, Travis Patoc, a minor gal Kyoko Patoc, Carol Payne, Cary Perez, an Individual and as Guardian Ad Litem for minor child Jovhan Perez, Jovhan Perez, a minor gal Cary Perez, Emily Peria, Gerry Peria, Lotolelei Purcell, Tenitala Purcell, Azucena Ramirez, Phillip Rios, an Individual and as Guardian Ad Litem for minor child Colton Rios, Colton Rios, a minor gal Phillip Rios, Allaine Rivera, an individual and as Guardian Ad Litem for minor child Ferdinand Rivera, Jr., Ferdinand Rivera, Jr., a minor gal Allaine Rivera, Ferdinand Rivera, Rickey — Rivera, Allen Saraos, Rosemary Saraos, Stephanie Schoening, Janet Kim Seu, Emily Skedeleski, an Individual and as Guardian Ad Litem for minor child Jace Skedeleski, and minor child Jenna Skedeleski, Jace Skedeleski, a minor gal Emily Skedeleski, Jenna Skedeleski, a minor gal Emily Skedeleski, Glenn Skedeleski, Douglas Slattery, Brandi Solmerin, a minor gal Lisa Solmerin, Flor Soriano, an Individual and as Guardian Ad Litem for minor child Jonathan Soriano, minor child Jose Soriano, and minor child Joseph Soriano, Jose Soriano, a minor gal Flor Soriano, Jose Soriano, Andrea Stevers, an Individual and as Guardian Ad Litem for minor child Brittany Stevers, and minor child Nicholas Stevers, Brittany Stevers, a minor gal Andrea Stevers, Nicholas Stevers, a minor gal Andrea Stevers, Michael Stevers, Garrett Suga, Ginger Suga, an Individual and as Special Administrator for Megan Suga, deceased, Megan Suga, deceased rec Ginger Suga, Guy Tamashiro, Leslie Tamashiro, an Individual and as Guardian Ad Litem for minor child Annalyse Tamashiro, and minor child Sydney Tamashiro, Annalyse Tamashiro, a minor gal Leslie Tamashiro, Sydney Tamashiro, a minor gal Leslie Tamashiro, Waynette Tamashiro, an Individual and as Guardian Ad Litem for minor child Tyler Tamashiro, Tyler Tamashiro, a minor gal Waynette Tamashiro, Timothy Tanabe, an Individual, Danny Tegui, an Individual and as Special Administrator for Amor Tegui, deceased, Amor Tegui, deceased rec Danny Tegui, Otis Thomas, Donna Thomson, Roland Thompson, Nunziata Tilley, Sharilyn Ventura, Earl Watanabe, Laura Watanabe, an Individual and as Guardian Ad Litem for minor child Shane Watanabe, Shane Watanabe, a minor gal Laura Watanabe, Christina Wheaton, an Individual and as Guardian Ad Litem for minor child Emily Wheaton, minor child Amanda Wheaton, and minor child Jessica Wheaton, Emily Wheaton, a minor gal Christina Wheaton, Amanda Wheaton, a minor gal Christina Wheaton, Felicisma Wild, Janice Yamakawa, an Individual and as Guardian Ad Litem for minor child Allyson Yamakawa, and as Special Administrator for Ryan Yamakawa, deceased, Allyson Yamakawa, a minor gal Janice Yamakawa, Ryan Yamakawa, deceased rec Janice Yamakawa, Rodney Yamakawa, Kyong Ae Yi, Leilani Yim, an Individual and as Guardian Ad Litem for minor child Kaniela Yim, and minor child Ponciano Yim, Kaniela Yim, a minor gal Leilani Yim, Ponciano Yim, a minor gal Leilani Yim, Janne Yoshinaga, an Individual and as Guardian Ad Litem for minor child Jared Yoshinaga, and minor child Micah Yoshinaga, Jared Yoshinaga, a minor gal Janne Yoshinaga, Micah Yoshinaga, a minor gal Janne Yoshinaga, Lawrence Yoshinaga, Bert Arimoto, Pamela Arimoto, Individual, David Asakura, Darren Bajo, Kenneth Bissen, Jr., Cameron Blackwell, Minor, Christopher Blackwell, Minor, Jeffrey Blackwell, Lorraine Blackwell, Individual and as Guardian Ad Litem for Cameron and Christopher Blackwell, minors. As Special Administrator for Hedwig Keopuhiwa, deceased, Elsa Bonsato, Individual, Cheryl Buckman, Individual and as Guardian Ad Litem for Timothy Purifoy, minor, Profetiza Cabrido, Marie Cera, Petronila Cera, Individual and as Special Administrator for Vivencio Cero, decease, Vivencio Cera, deceased, Marie Ferreira, Michael Ferreira, Mary Fitt, Roxane Gibo, Juan Gonzalez, Dolores Harris, Rhonda Harris, Ronald Harris, Steven Harris, Jeanne Heu, Individual, Wesley Heu, Raymond Higa, Susan Higa, Individual, Nestor Hipolito, Rose Hipolito, Jennifer Hirokawa, Minor, Norma Hirokawa as Guardian Ad Litem for Jennifer Hirokawa, Joshua, Malia, and Melissa Hirokawa-Thomas, minors, Joshua Hirokawa-Thomas, Minor, Malia Hirokawa-Thomas, Minor, Melissa Hirokawa-Thomas, Minor, Carol Hyrne, Individual, Derek Kajihiro, Janet Kajihiro, Aileen Kajiwara, Jupiter Kajiwara, as Special Administrator for Samuel and Yohko Kajiwara, deceased, Samuel Kajiwara, Deceased, Yohko Kajiwara, Deceased, Ken Jr. Kamimura, Hedwig Keopuhiwa, Deceased, Larry Koval, Linda Koval, Christine Madeira, Robert Makizuru, Yoko Makizuru, Arnold McWhorter, Shirly McWhorter, Danette Meheula-Tenn, Wealth Miarecki, Baldwin Miyake, Sally Miyaka, James Morse, Kalae Morse, Lynne Morse, Derrick Nekota, Cherie Opendo, as Special Administrator for Albert Samson, deceased, Lynne Ono, Scott Ono, Terrilynn Ono, Diana Oshiro, Individual rec Dureka Oshiro, Dureka Oshiro, Deceased, Michael Oshiro, Erik Pang, Minor gal Craig Pang, Patrick Pasco, Francisco Patoc, Ikua Purdy, Margaret Purdy, Timothy Purifoy, Minor, Paul Rodrigues, Albert Samson, Deceased, Jere Lee Sanchez, Individually and as Guardian Ad Litem for Kenton, Megan, and Sasha Sanchez, minors, Kenton Sanchez, minor rec Jere Lee Sanchez, Megan Sanchez, minor rec Jere Lee Sanchez, Sasha Sanchez, minor rec Jere Lee Sanchez, Kent Sanchez, Aaron Sayers, Barbara Sayers, Frank Sayers, Morris Shiratori, Susan Shiratori, Kimberly Silva, William Silva, Jr., Joan Souki, Vincent Souki, Dean Sueda, Wanda Sueda, Alena Suemori, Natalie Suemori, Romeo Sumaylo, Ellen Suzuki, Ian Tamashiro, Kathleen Tice, Lawrence Tice, Earl Tilley, Ellen Tomisato, Henry Tomisato, Deceased rec Ellen Tomisato, Gary Tomisato, Deceased, Henry Tomisato, Deceased, Leone Tomisato, as Special Administrator for Gary Tomisato, deceased, Clint Walker, Kenneth Walker, David West, Michael O. West, Minor, Patti West, Individually and as Guardian Ad Litem for Michael West, minor, Jessica Wheaton, a minor gal Christina Wheaton, Anna Yin, John Yin, plaintiffs.

Raymond J. Tam, Glenn J. Stanford, Tam & Stanford, Honolulu, HI, Edward L. Masry, David E. Weeks, Masry & Vititoe, Westlake Village, CA, Walter J. Lack, Ann A. Howitt, Brian J. Leinbach, Gary A. Praglin, Engstrom Lipscomb & Lack, Los Angeles, CA, Thomas V. Girardi, Girardi & Keese, Los Angels, CA, for Christophr Koval, plaintiff.

Sidney K. Ayabe, Jeffrey H.K. Sia, Calvin E. Young, Steven L. Goto, Ayabe Chong Nishimoto Sia & Nakamura, Honolulu, HI, Gennaro A. Filice, III, Nicholas D. Kayhan, Oakland, CA, Dean T. Barnhard, Barnes & Thornburg, Indianapolis, IN, for Dow Chemical Co., defendant.

Dale W. Lee, Thomas H.Y.P. Yee, Kobayashi Sugita & Goda, Honolulu, HI, Stephen W. Jones, Sedgwick Detert Moran & Arnold, San Francisco, CA, Burt Ballanfant, Shell Oil Company, Houston, TX, for John R. Myrdal, Scott I. Batterman, Tred R. Everly, Stanton Clay Chapman Crumpton & Iwamura, Elise Owens Thorn, Edmunds Maki Verga & Thorn, Honolulu, Daniel A. Casey, Kirkpatrick & Lockhart LLP, Miami, FL, John T. Komeiji, Watanabe Ing Kawashima & Komeiji LLP, Honolulu, James S. Teater, Jones Day Reavis & Pogue, Dallas, TX, Robert T. Takamatsu, Patsy H. Kirio, Watanabe Ing Kawashima & Komeiji LLP, Honolulu, Nancy Mackimm, Jones Day Reavis & Pogue, Dallas, TX, Dennis Niles, Judy A. Tanaka, Pamela W. Bunn, Paul Johnson Park & Niles, Honolulu, Todd D. Thibodo, Paul Hastings Janofsky & Walker, Los Angeles, CA, Christopher W. Tompkins, Betts Patterson & Mines P S, Seattle, WA, Thomas E. Cook, Edquon Lee, Lyons Brandt Cook & Hiramatsu, Michael R. Cruise, Paul Johnson Park & Niles, Honolulu, Judy A. Tanaka, Paul Johnson Park & Niles, Wailuku, Amanda E. Vedrich, Betts Patterson & Mines P S, Seattle, WA, for Shell Oil Co., Shell Petroleum Inc., Shell Chemical Company, Shell Chemicals, Ltd.

John R. Mrydal, Scott I. Batterman, Stanton Clay Chapman Crumpton & IWamura, for Del Monte Corporation, defendant.

John T. Komeiji, Watanbe Ing Kawashima & Komeiji LLP, Honolulu, HI, Elise Owens Thorn, James S. Teater, Jones Day Reavis & Pogue, Dallas, TX, Daniel A. Casey, Kirkpatrick & Lockhart LLP, Miami, FL, for Del Monte Fresh Produce (Hawaii) Inc., defendant.

John T. Komeiji, Robert T. Takamatsu, Patsy H. Kirio, Watanbe Ing Kawashima & Komeiji LLP, Honolulu, HI, James S. Teater, Nancy Mackim, Jones Day Reavis & Pogue, Dallas, TX, for Dole Foods Corp., defendant.

Dennis Niles, Judy A. Tanaka, Pamela W. Bunn, Paul Johnson Park & Niles, Honolulu, HI, for Libby McNeill Libby, Inc., defendant.

Christopher W. Tompkins, Betts Patterson & Mines P.S., Seattle, WA, Thomas E. Cook, Edquon Lee, Lyons Brandt Cook & Hiramatsu, Honolulu, HI, for Great Lakes Chemical Corp., Nestle USA, Inc., defendants.

Theodore G. Meeker, Office of U.S. Atty., Honolulu, HI, Robert D. McCallum, Jr., U.S. Dept. of Justice Civ. Div. Torts Branch, Washington, DC, for U.S., defendant.


ORDER GRANTING SHELL'S MOTIONS FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT, AND GRANTING IN PART, AND DENYING IN PART, DOW'S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT, AND GRANTING DOLE'S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT ON COUNT IV

KURREN, United States Magistrate Judge.

Before the Court, pursuant to Rule 56(c) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, is Shell Oil Company's, Shell Petroleum Inc.'s, Shell Chemical Company's, and Shell Chemicals, Ltd.'s ("Shell" or the "Shell Defendants")...

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