Partner

(808) 528-5003
devens@pacificlaw.com

Mr. Devens has litigated a variety of cases at all levels in the Hawaii State courts, including the 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 Zoning Board of Appeals, Building Board of Appeals, Disability Compensation Division, Labor and Industrial Relations Appeals Board, Hawaii Labor Relations Board and Board of Land and Natural Resources. He has also represented State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers in high profile labor matters, including major contract negotiations and grievances.

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 also successfully litigated a variety of other cases, including motor vehicle collisions, bicycle accidents, slip and falls, medical malpractice and many complex cases, including an $825,000 settlement in a products liability case involving an auto stacking shipping device, a $600,000 jury verdict for a man who suffered a collar bone fracture in a car accident, a $600,000 settlement arising out of a hunting accident, a $525,000 settlement involving an adult who drowned in a City owned pool, a $450,000 settlement from a boating accident, and a $410,000 settlement involving ADA violations on a City bus.

Mr. Devens also speaks Japanese and has represented several Japan corporations.

EDUCATION

1987: University of California, Boalt Hall School of Law: J.D.
Associate Editor of the Industrial Relations Law Journal.

1984: University of California at Berkeley: B.A. economics
Graduated magna cum laude; Phi Beta Kappa, UC Berkeley Economics Honor Society

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

1997-Present: Meheula & Devens LLP-Partner
[Serves as General Outside Counsel for State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers (“SHOPO”)]

1995-1997: Winer & Meheula-Associate.

1989-1995: Honolulu Police Department-Police Officer (Outstanding Recruit Award, Highest Scholastic Recruit Award, Nominated for Officer of the Year).

1987-1989: Ikazaki Devens, Lo Youth & Nakano-Associate.

LICENSES

1987-present: Supreme Court of the United States, United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, United States District Court (District of Hawaii), Hawaii State Courts

PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE

State Land Use Commission-Chairman, Vice Chair, Commissioner (7/1/07-6/30/11)

Crimestoppers Honolulu, Inc.-Board of Directors (1/11-present)

Hawaii State Bar Association-Board of Directors, Member

American Bar Association-Member

American Association for Justice-Member

Consumer Lawyers of Hawaii-Member, former Treasurer

Hawaii Association for Justice-Member

Court Annexed Arbitration Program-Certified Arbitrator

AYSO soccer, KAC baseball, ASA girls softball-Coach

SPEAKING/WRITING ENGAGEMENTS

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)