(808) 253-8108 (direct)
devens@pacificlaw.com
Mr. Devens has successfully litigated a variety of cases at all levels in our Hawaii State courts, including the Hawaii Supreme Court, Intermediate Court of Appeals, Circuit Court, District Court, Family Court, the federal courts (District of Hawaii, 9th Circuit Court of Appeals), and before various administrative agencies, including the Disability Compensation Division, Labor and Industrial Relations Appeals Board and Hawaii Labor Relations Board.
In what is considered one of the highest settlements in the country, Mr. Devens was the lead trial attorney in a class action that settled for over $30 million dollars and consisted of over 2,000 police officers and firefighters based on a violation of the Fair Labor and Standards Act (“FLSA”), which was filed against the City and County of Honolulu, County of Kauai, County of Maui and County of Hawaii.
In a landmark and groundbreaking decision issued by the Hawaii Supreme Court in 2008, Mr. Devens successfully litigated and obtained a verdict in excess of $1 million dollars against the State’s Child Protective Services for failing to protect an abused child on Maui.
Mr. Devens has successfully litigated a variety of cases, including wrongful death cases, car, pedestrian, moped and bicycle accidents, bus accidents, slip and falls, work/construction accidents, medical malpractice and many complex injury cases that have resulted in substantial settlements and/or verdicts. He has also represented the State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers in many high profile labor matters, including major contract arbitrations and grievances.
RECOGNITION
The Best Lawyers in America: Personal Injury, Litigation
National Trial Lawyers Association: Top 100 Trial Lawyer
Super Lawyers by Key Professional Media, Inc.
EDUCATION
1987: University of California at Berkeley (Boalt Hall School of Law) (JD)
1984: University of California at Berkeley (BA, economics, magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa)
1980: Kalani High School
LICENSES
Supreme Court of the United States
United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
United States District Court (District of Hawaii)
Hawaii State Courts
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Meheula & Devens: Partner
Winer, Meheula & Devens: Partner
Ikazaki, Devens, Lo Youth and Nakano: Associate
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
Hawaii State Bar Association
American Bar Association
American Association for Justice
American Judicature Society
Hawaii Association for Justice
Court Annexed Arbitration Program (court certified arbitrator)
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Hawaii State Bar Association: Board of Directors
Crimestoppers of Honolulu: Board of Directors
ASA Softball
AYSO/HYSA Soccer
SPEAKING/WRITING ENGAGEMENTS
Speaker for SHOPO Business Agents Training Workshop (12/13/12)
Harvard Law School: Lecturer at the Labor and Worklife Program, 13th Annual Police Union Leadership Seminar (4/27/12)
William Richardson School of Law, Susan B. McKay Intramural Oral Advocacy Competition-Judge (September 10, 2011)
Hawaii Bar Journal (publication), “Joint and Several Liability,” Co-Author (May, 2011)
William Richardson School of Law, Susan B. McKay Intramural Oral Advocacy Competition-Judge (September 11, 2010)
Speaker before Hawaii Hotel Engineers Association (November 18, 2009)
William Richardson School of Law, Susan B. McKay Intramural Oral Advocacy Competition-Judge (September 12, 2009)
William Richardson School of Law, Susan B. McKay Intramural Oral Advocacy Competition-Judge (September 13, 2008)
Speaker before Hawaii Hotel Association of Security Directors (October 3, 2008)
Speaker for SHOPO Union Officials Training Workshop (June 16, 2008)
Speaker before Hawaii Hotel Engineers Association (February 14, 2008)
Speaker before Hawaii Hotel Association of Security Directors (October 18, 2007)
William Richardson School of Law, Susan McKay Intramural Oral Advocacy Competition-Judge (2007)
Contributing author to the Hawaii State Bar Association’s annual seminar litigation manual (2006)
Speaker before SHOPO regarding the Revised Uniform Arbitration Act and its impact on collective bargaining agreements (February 6, 2004)
Speaker at Lorman’s Seminar on Automobile Accident Law (May 21, 2003)
Speaker before SHOPO regarding the Revised Uniform Arbitration Act and its impact on collective bargaining agreements (January 16, 2003)
Speaker before SHOPO regarding the Fair Labor and Standards Act and collective bargaining (April 12, 2002)
Speaker at Kapiolani Community College, paralegal class (1998)
