Law Firm Free to Continue Gary O. Galiher’s Legacy of Service

Galiher’s Partners Clear Legal Challenge Allowing Galiher DeRobertis & Waxman to Move Forward

HONOLULU – Richard DeRobertis and Ilana Waxman, longtime law partners of the late Gary O. Galiher, announced today that the Galiher estate has dismissed all claims regarding clients and assets and the law firm is moving forward as Galiher DeRobertis & Waxman.

As the one-year anniversary of Galiher’s death approaches next week, maintaining the firm’s legacy of service to Hawai‘i asbestos and mesothelioma clients is at the top of their mind.

Galiher, a pioneer in asbestos litigation, spent 38 years working as a leading advocate for victims of mesothelioma and other catastrophic injuries, both in Hawai‘i and nationwide. Sadly, Galiher died on November 15, 2016, in a helicopter crash on Molokai.

“Gary assisted thousands of Hawai‘i shipyard workers, construction workers, and Navy veterans who suffered from terrible asbestos diseases,” said DeRobertis, who practiced law with Galiher for 33 years. “These workers and their families initially didn’t know where to turn. Gary was a passionate advocate for his clients and helped them acquire the financial and medical assistance they needed. I am proud to have helped Gary represent asbestos clients since 1983.”

Since Galiher’s passing, DeRobertis and Waxman have faced unexpected claims by the Galiher estate, but these items were resolved on November 8 when the lawsuit was formally dismissed and all issues regarding the future of the firm were officially resolved.

“As our firm enters a new chapter, Rick and I are committed to holding corporations and insurance companies accountable and making sure the legal system in Hawai‘i continues to work on behalf of ordinary working people,” said Waxman, who has been practicing law with Galiher for 10 years. “Our entire firm remains committed to fighting for the people of Hawai‘i, representing workers, Navy veterans, and consumers who have suffered catastrophic illness through no fault of their own. Gary’s legacy of service will live on. Rick and I are very committed to that.”

The Galiher DeRobertis & Waxman law firm is located in The Mililani Building in downtown Honolulu.

820 Mililani Street, Suite 505
Honolulu, HI 96813
Phone (U.S. Toll-Free): 1-888-597-1441
Email: info@GaliherLaw.com
Website: www.galiherlaw.com

ABOUT GALIHER DeROBERTIS & WAXMAN LLP:

Galiher DeRobertis & Waxman is a Hawai‘i-based personal injury law firm with more than 30 years of experience. It specializes in mesothelioma and asbestos cases and handles a variety of personal-injury cases. The firm has represented clients on every island in the state of Hawai‘i and in 40 states on the U.S. mainland, as well as several foreign countries. It has secured hundreds of millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements and has earned an outstanding reputation among its colleagues and adversaries alike for its tenacity and dedication to its clients.

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Contact:

John McNamara
CommPac
(808) 218-2482
jmcnamara@commpac.com

Pesticides: the War on Both Sides of the Fence

Hawai‘i has become the new ground-zero in the war over pesticides and GMOs (genetically modified organisms).

The Hawai‘ian islands have evolved into a base for the development of genetically engineered corn as well as other crops that are sold around the world. Chemical companies have relocated to the state, and where sugar cane and pineapples once grew, one can now easily find corn fields.

What is the Controversy around Pesticides?

Not everyone is rolling out the red carpet for the chemical companies, sometimes called agrichemical companies because of the mix of chemical technology and agricultural science. Activists who are opposed to genetically engineered crops have joined with residents who say corn farms expose them to dust and pesticides. Together, they are working to vote them off of the island, or at the very least reign them in.

When sugar cane was replaced by corn, Michiyo Altomoare, a Kauai resident, says the winds began carrying fine red soil that coated her counters, forcing her family to shut their windows and install central air-conditioning. And when she began to smell pesticides she contacted the police.

How are Residents Exposed to Pesticides?

When pesticides are sprayed over crops, the pesticides can become airborne and blown by the wind away from the intended agricultural field. This is called pesticide drift. The pesticide drift can be carried downwind into nearby neighborhoods contaminating homes and exposing residents to toxic chemicals.

Why Hawai‘i?

GMO seed companies counter their operations are safe and that the industry is essential to Hawai‘i’s economy, going so far as to say that curtailment of the Hawai‘i operations would disrupt agriculture for the nation. Seeds are Hawai‘i’s leading agricultural commodity, contributing $264 million to the economy and 1,400 jobs, according to a study commissioned by the companies.

These companies have no intention of walking away easily. They’re in Hawai‘i because the warm climate allows for three corn crops to be harvested in a year, compared with one in the Midwest. That accelerates the several generations of crossbreeding needed to perfect a new variety.

How are Birth Defects Linked to Pesticides?

Pesticides continue to be a large concern across the islands from noxious odors near a middle school, to seemingly unusually high rates of asthma, cancer, and birth defects. Local doctors report seeing more than 10 times the national rate of birth defects, like heart malformations, in the state of Hawai‘i and say that more study is needed. However, many of the pesticides being heavily used on Kauai, Maui, and throughout the neighbor islands have been linked to a number of birth defects including:

  • Cardiac conditions
  • Limb abnormalities
  • Spina bifida
  • Gastroschisis

Still, demands have intensified for further studies and for disclosure of what pesticides are used. In addition to disclosure, forthcoming bills aim to establish no-spray zones around schools, hospitals, residences, public roads and waterways.