Disappeared News

by Larry Geller

It’s not yet Hanabusa v. Djou, there is still one other Democratic candidate in the 1st Congressional race, attorney Rafael del Castillo. The newspapers won’t cover other than their favorites, so it’s hard for the public to get an idea of what each candidate stands for.

In checking the federal court calendar just now for the trafficking case, I discovered that del Castillo is on deck Tuesday for two cases, both against the Department of Human Services and others. I haven’t researched the cases to see what the current situation is, but they relate to state Medicaid managed care contracts which were given to two Mainland for-private companies.

Just to give you an idea of what this candidate does that keeps him from the campaign trail, here is a list of plaintiffs on the first of the two cases he’ll be arguing for tomorrow:

G., parent and next friend of K., a
disabled minor child; D., parent and
next friend of E., a disabled minor
child; S., parent and next friend of T.,
a disabled minor adolescent; C., parent
and next friend of M., a disabled minor
adolescent; M., parent and next friend
of L, a disabled minor child; V., parent
and guardian of R., a disabled adult;
and C. J., a blind disabled adult, for
herself

This is a guy doing important, humanitarian work, representing minor and disabled children. He and one other attorney will be up against 14, count ‘em, 14, attorneys listed on the DHS side. Speaking of David v. Goliath….

The calendar indicates that the action tomorrow is limited to setting trial dates. But the case already has 727, count ‘em, 727 documents on file. That’s a mountain of work already done, and it goes to trial in October. There will be more.

I do think del Castillo would make a great congressman for Hawaii. Should that happen, though, I wonder who would pick up his advocacy for children and adults whose lives may be at stake if they can’t get legal assistance on these complicated cases.

Permalink posted by Larry @ 9/06/2010 04:20:00 AM