Attorneys
Ronald T. Ogomori, Esq.
Owner/founder
Firm founding member and owner Ronald Ogomori is a highly experienced litigator with over 25 years of legal experience. Ronald has represented clients in mediation proceedings and has tried a vast array of cases in state and federal court and arbitration proceedings.
Over the past 20 years, Ronald’s practice has been focused upon all facets of commercial and construction litigation. He has represented owners, developers, contractors, construction managers and architects in a wide variety of highly complex cases relating to the design, development, construction and marketing of residential subdivisions, single-family homes, condominiums, commercial buildings, and related improvements, utilities, and infrastructure, all around the State of Hawai`i. Ronald represents his construction clients in all phases of construction and development of commercial and residential projects, starting with contract drafting, negotiation of change orders, formal claims and claim disputes, mechanic’s lien applications and formal litigation. Ronald also represents contractors, architects and other licensees before the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs regarding consumer complaints.
Ronald has represented municipalities, contractors and other participants in cases involving the design and construction of public works, including transportation projects, wastewater disinfection facilities, schools and other government facilities. Ronald’s experience in the area also includes representing clients in connection with bid protests regarding the award of public works contracts, administrative claims for additional compensation and trials.
In commercial litigation, Ronald has represented owners, banking institutions, sellers, investors, buyers and finance companies in business litigation matters, including real estate acquisition, zoning applications, zoning violations, breach of contract claims, collection matters, partition cases, summary possession cases, premises liability claims, and insurance defense matters.
Ronald has had many case successes in both state and federal courts. Ronald served as lead counsel in a complex construction case against the State of Hawaii and obtained a trial verdict of approximately $1.0 million in favor of his contractor client.
In an arbitration case involving the design and construction of a residential home in Maui, Ronald obtained a substantial judgment in favor of his contractor client, including over $22,000 in attorneys’ fees and costs, as well as the dismissal of the owner defendant’s counterclaims. The arbitrator’s decision was affirmed by the State of Hawai`i Circuit Court after the owner attempted to vacate the arbitrator’s award, and the court also awarded the contractor client an additional $13,000 in attorneys’ fees and costs incurred in upholding the arbitrator awards.
In two recent State of Hawaii multimillion-dollar cases involving multiple claims against our client, a seller of two undeveloped parcels located within a master-planned luxury project in Kailua-Kona, Ronald successfully filed two motions for summary judgment resulting in the complete dismissal of our client from the two consolidated arbitration proceedings.
In a recent Federal Bankruptcy Court case, Ronald received a bench verdict upholding the validity of a substantial settlement agreement between the parties. The Federal Bankruptcy court verdict was upheld by the Bankruptcy Appellate Panel for the Ninth Circuit and the firm also was able to secure an award of fees and costs against the opposing parties.
Born and raised in Hawai`i, Ronald is a graduate of the University of Hawai`i at Mānoa’s William S. Richardson School of Law. For many years, Ronald has been a frequent speaker at construction industry seminars involving design-related claims, construction-related claims, and government contracts. Ronald also served as the Chair and Vice-Chair of the City & County of Honolulu’s Zoning Board of Appeals. He is admitted and qualified to practice in all Hawai`i State Courts and the United States District Court for the District of Hawai`i.
Education
University of Hawai`i at Mānoa William S.
Richardson School of Law, Juris Doctorate
University of Hawai`i at Mānoa, Bachelor’s of
Business Arts in Accounting with Distinction
Seminars
“The Fundamentals of Construction Contracts: Understanding the Issues,” Ogomori, Yoshimoto, Holma, and Harris, Lorman Education Services, 2009.
“Public Contracts and Procurement Regulations in Hawaii,” Ogomori, Yoshimoto, and Bushnell; Lorman Education Services, 2008-2009.
“How Design Documents Can Prevent or Cause Construction Claims in Hawaii,” Ogomori, Yoshimoto, and Morgan; Lorman Education Services, 2006.
Memberships & Affiliations
Hawaii State Bar Association
American Bar Association
ABA Forum Committee on the Construction Industry
ABA Section of Litigation
Maria A. Carmichael, Esq.
Associate Attorney
Maria’s diverse legal background includes workers' compensation insurance defense, family law, personal injury, employment law, criminal defense, medical malpractice, trust and estates, and commercial and construction litigation. She has represented clients at all levels of Hawaii state court, before numerous state agencies, federal district court, and in mediation and arbitration proceedings.
Maria’s recent case successes include two recent agency appeal cases involving how assets held in trust relate to Medicaid eligibility. In two separate, lengthy appellate oral arguments, Maria successfully argued against the State of Hawaii that home properties properly placed in irrevocable trusts are not countable assets for the purpose of Medicaid eligibility, resulting in the preservation of home properties and Medicaid long-term benefits for both clients.
Maria obtained her B.A. in Music, summa cum laude, from Oregon State University. She was active in opera and musical theatre productions, and the OSU Chamber Choir, receiving numerous academic and music accolades. Maria received her law degree the William S. Richardson School of Law, University of Hawaii at Mānoa, in 2011. She graduated magna cum laude with a Certificate in Native Hawaii Law. While in law school, she received numerous awards and honors, including the Legal Practice II Best Oral Argument, Legal Practice II Highest Grade, Second Year Seminar Highest Grade, Delta Theta Phi Robert E. Cole Award for Professionalism, Delta Theta Phi Regional Outstanding Student Award, Delta Theta Phi Regional Outstanding Chapter Award, and was a Susan B. McKay Oral Advocacy Competition Co-Winner. Maria held numerous leadership positions, including serving as an Executive Editor for the University of Hawaii Law Review, Dean of the Delta Theta Phi Legal Fraternity, and member of the Native American Moot Court team. After graduating from law school, Maria spent a year clerking for Chief Judge Nakamura of the Hawai`i State Intermediate Court of Appeals.
Maria is admitted to practice before all Hawai`i courts and the United States District Court for the District of Hawai`i.
Education
University of Hawai`i at Mānoa William S.
Richardson School of Law, J.D., magna cum laude,
Certificate in Native Hawaiian Law
Oregon State University, B.A., Music, summa cum
laude
