Maui Man Linked to Halloween Lawsuit Back in Court

Richard Dancil, File photo by Wendy Osher.

By Wendy Osher

Richard Dancil, the man at the center of a lawsuit filed against the county over Halloween festivities in Lahaina, is back in court, this time alleging wrongful termination from Kula Hospital.

Dancil, who worked in the maintenance department at Kula Hospital for more than 25 years, was terminated on June 15, 2010.

In the suit, Dancil alleges retaliation, saying he was falsely accused of insubordination and theft from the hospital thrift store.

He further says he was “unable to get unemployment… and lost his health insurance,” leaving him both “destitute and seriously ill,” with claims that he suffered from gout and mental depression following the incident.

This, he said, prevented him from filing a grievance and a prohibitive practice complaint in a timely manner.

Attorneys for Kula Hospital and Clinic, a division of Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, filed a motion for summary judgement against Dancil.

Attorneys representing the hospital acknowledged that a motion was filed to dismiss claims made by Dancil. Similar arguments were reportedly dismissed by the Hawaii Labor Relations Board.

The motion is scheduled to be heard at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday Jan. 30 in Second Circuit Court before Judge Cardoza.