(a) At the request of any party, any dispute concerning or involving one or more stockholders and a limited-equity housing corporation, its board of directors, managing agent, or one or more other stockholders relating to the interpretation, application, or enforcement of this chapter or the corporation’s charter of incorporation, bylaws, or administrative rules adopted in accordance with its bylaws shall be submitted to arbitration. The arbitration shall be conducted, unless otherwise agreed by the parties, in accordance with chapter [658A] and the Condominium Property Regime Rules on Arbitration of Disputes of the American Arbitration Association; provided that where any arbitration rule conflicts with chapter 658A, chapter 658A shall prevail; provided further that notwithstanding any rule to the contrary, the arbitrator shall conduct the proceedings in a manner which affords substantial justice to all parties; provided further that the proceedings shall be concluded ninety days after the commencement of the arbitration unless extended by mutual consent of the parties involved and their counsel. The arbitrator shall be bound by rules of substantive law and shall not be bound by rules of evidence, whether or not set out by statute, except for provisions relating to privileged communications. The arbitrator shall permit discovery as provided for in the Hawaii rules of civil procedure; provided that the arbitrator may restrict the scope of such discovery for good cause to avoid excessive delay and costs to the parties or the arbitrator may refer any matter involving discovery to the circuit court for disposition in accordance with the Hawaii rules of civil procedure then in effect.
Terms Used In Hawaii Revised Statutes 421H-6
Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
Discovery: Lawyers' examination, before trial, of facts and documents in possession of the opponents to help the lawyers prepare for trial.
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
Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
Foreclosure: A legal process in which property that is collateral or security for a loan may be sold to help repay the loan when the loan is in default. Source: OCC
Mortgage: The written agreement pledging property to a creditor as collateral for a loan.
Mortgagee: The person to whom property is mortgaged and who has loaned the money.
Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
(b) Nothing in subsection (a) shall be interpreted to mandate the arbitration of any dispute involving:
(1) The mortgagee of a mortgage of record;(2) The developer, general contractor, subcontractors, or design professionals for the project; provided that when any person exempted by this paragraph is also a stockholder, a director, or managing agent, such person, in those capacities, shall be subject to subsection (a);(3) Actions seeking equitable relief involving threatened property damage or the health or safety of stockholders or any other person;(4) Actions to collect assessments which are liens or subject to foreclosure;(5) Personal injury claims; or(6) Actions for amounts in excess of $2,500 against a limited-equity housing corporation, a board of directors, or one or more directors, officers, agents, employees, or other persons, if insurance coverage under a policy or policies procured by the limited-equity housing corporation or its board of directors would be unavailable because action by arbitration was pursued.
