(a) If an employer fails or neglects to comply with the:

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Terms Used In Hawaii Revised Statutes 398-25

  • Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
  • Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • Department: means the department of labor and industrial relations. See Hawaii Revised Statutes 398-1
  • Employee: means a person who performs services for hire for not fewer than six consecutive months for the employer from whom benefits are sought under this chapter. See Hawaii Revised Statutes 398-1
  • Employer: means any individual or organization, including the State, any of its political subdivisions, any instrumentality of the State or its political subdivisions, any partnership, association, trust, estate, joint stock company, insurance company, or corporation, whether domestic or foreign, or receiver or trustee in bankruptcy, or the legal representative of a deceased person, who employs one hundred or more employees for each working day during each of twenty or more calendar weeks in the current or preceding calendar year. See Hawaii Revised Statutes 398-1
  • Equitable: Pertaining to civil suits in "equity" rather than in "law." In English legal history, the courts of "law" could order the payment of damages and could afford no other remedy. See damages. A separate court of "equity" could order someone to do something or to cease to do something. See, e.g., injunction. In American jurisprudence, the federal courts have both legal and equitable power, but the distinction is still an important one. For example, a trial by jury is normally available in "law" cases but not in "equity" cases. Source: U.S. Courts
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Plaintiff: The person who files the complaint in a civil lawsuit.
(1) Final order of the department from which no appeal has been taken as provided by this chapter; or
(2) Final decision of the hearings officer,

the department or the affected employee may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction to enforce the provisions of the final order or decision and for any other appropriate relief. In any proceeding to enforce the provisions of the final order or decision, the department or the affected employee need only file with the court proof that a certified copy of the final order or decision was served. In the case of the final decision, proof that the notice of hearing was given also must be filed with the court.

(b) Any action to enforce this chapter, or to recover damages or equitable relief prescribed by this chapter, may be maintained in any court of competent jurisdiction by any one or more employees for and on behalf of the employee or employees, or the employee or employees may designate an agent or representative to maintain the action.
(c) In any action brought under this chapter, the court shall allow, in addition to any judgment awarded to the plaintiff, costs of action, including fees of any nature, and reasonable attorney’s fees to be paid by the defendant.