Robert D. Harris

  Associate

email: rdh@hawaiilawyer.com
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Education

William S. Richardson School of Law, University of Hawaii (JD 2002)

University of Hawaii (BA 1998)

Admitted to Practice

Hawaii
U.S. District Court

Robert D. Harris joined the firm in 2003 and practices in civil litigation, with a specific interest in environmental law, land use, commercial litigation, and insurance coverage work.

Mr. Harris is also an adjunct Professor at the University of Hawai`i William S. Richardson School of Law.

His experience includes administrative hearings and appellate work in areas of environmental law, insurance coverage, and products liability, including:

Environmental

• CERCLA - Represented clients in emergency response actions and CERCLA (Superfund) litigation. Supervised contamination remediation projects.

• UNDEGROUND STORAGE TANKS - Counseled clients regarding compliance with state and federal underground storage tank regulations. Supervised remediation of leaking underground storage tanks and assisted clients in obtaining “no further action” letters from the Hawaii Department of Health.

• CLEAN WATER ACT - Counseled clients in water pollution permitting issues, including NPDES permits and storm water permits. Litigated a key case involving the establishment of Total Maximum Daily Load standards in Hawai`i.

• ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT - Assisted clients with understanding the implications of Critical Habitat designations. Submitted comments regarding draft environmental impact statements regarding all issues related to the Endangered Species Act.

• Mr. Harris is also a frequent speaker at various seminars, including chairing a panel entitled “Regulation of Agricultural Lands--2005 Legislation, Policy and Implementation” at the Hawai` State Bar Association’s Annual Conference.

• Mr. Harris has been involved in litigation of environmental matters in the Federal District Court and the Board of Land and Natural Resources.

• Mr. Harris is currently the Vice Chair of the Natural Resources Section of the Hawaii State Bar Association.

Insurance

• COVERAGE DISPUTES - Successfully negotiated coverage disputes with several large, well-known insurance companies and obtained defense and indemnification costs.

• COMPLEX LITIGATION - Assisted with complex litigation with regard to coverage disputes in several construction and tort cases.
  Drafted numerous publications addressing Hawai`i insurance law on a multitude of topics, such as bad faith coverage, intentional torts, and mold coverage.

• Mr. Harris is also a frequent speaker on the topic of insurance coverage, including an annual panel on Construction Disputes.

Mr. Harris attended the University of Oregon and the University of Hawai`i at Manoa and graduated with a B.A. in Chemistry and Environmental Studies. He received his J.D. degree, cum laude, from the University of Hawai`i William S. Richardson School of Law. During law school, Robert served as an editor for the University of Hawai`i Law Review, a member of the Client Counseling Moot Court team, and as an extern for the Honorable Judge Susan Oki Mollway. Prior to joining the firm, he clerked for the Honorable Associate Justice Simeon R. Acoba, Jr. at the Hawai`i Supreme Court.