So thankful we're getting press, even if they get a few things wrong: 
Attorney Terry Revere backed out of Chris's case because he was afraid to go after Corporation Counsel.

Salem is representing himself and has made extraordinary progress in exposing the County's corrupt lawyers and confronting conflicts of interest, on judges even, that no local lawyer would ever dare to do. 

We can't wait for this to go to trial. Corporation Counsel, a few Dept. Directors AND Maui's supposedly "Independent" County Auditor are all totally screwed. 
 
Read article in Maui News

WAILUKU–The County of Maui Government Relations, Ethics, and Transparency (GREAT) committee met Tuesday afternoon in Wailuku. The GREAT committee on Tuesday approved resolutions 24-71, and 24-81, relating to a longtime lawsuit brought forward against the county and a former mayor by Christopher Salem in 2021.

 
The resolutions from the GREAT committee allocated $450,000 in taxpayer monies to be paid to the Kobayashi, Sugita & Goda (KSG) law firm to act as special counsel in the Salem case for the county, according to meeting records.

Salem is a former county employee who previously worked under former Maui Mayor Mayor Mike Victorino. Salem was fired from his position of administrative liaison under Victorino in 2021 and he filed the lawsuit shortly after.

Resolution 24-71 allocated an additional compensation of taxpayer money in the sum of $325,000 to the KSG law firm. This amount is in addition to the $125,000 that has already been paid to KSG, bringing the total amount allocated to pay KSG to defend the county against the Salem suit to $450,000.

Salem is represented in his lawsuit against The County of Maui and former mayor Victorino by Terrance Revere, an attorney with the Maui-based Revere & Associates LLC. Salem is due in Second Circuit Civil Court on Friday before Judge Peter Cahill for a hearing on a motion.

 
According to court documents, Salem has filed a motion for a summary judgment in the case from Cahill that is set to be heard on Oct. 18.

“We’re seeking additional compensation to take this case through trial,” Deputy Corporate Counsel John Gores said in the GREAT meeting Tuesday. “The council as I believe is fully aware of what this case is about. We have discussed it before.”

Christopher Salem gave testimony before the GREAT committee on the two agenda items that pertained to himself.

“I’m not going to get into any litigation or any cases as far as that goes, I just want to make this more on a human or personal level so that the council will understand how this all began,” Salem said. “It began because I was minding my own business, planting my own garden in West Maui…I was celebrating the fact that I could plant a garden along Lower Road. And on up from the powers that be – the public works – I get a notice about a CIP (capital improvement plan) that’s about to commence from McDonald’s on up to Napili Market.”

Salem said that he went to the county and met with the head of engineering and suggested that the power lines be undergrounded in the area and the project should be made “nice.”

 
“I have to say that I am probably one of the most qualified people in development probably in West Maui, which is painful,” Salem said. “Councilmembers, it’s painful to be banging on these keyboards in litigation when I should be part of healing this community and leading the redevelopment and rebuilding of people’s homes that I have been personally involved with for 25-30 years in a youth program.”

Salem said he was told by engineering that there was no money to allocate towards beautification or safety. He also claimed he was told by the head of engineering for the county that they never collect deferral agreements on land titles.

“People do oceanfront subdivisions and do no improvements, no environmental mitigations, no park fees, nothing,” Salem said. “And you don’t keep track or collect them? That’s where it all begins.”

GREAT Chair Nohelani U’U-Hodgins stopped Salem after he said this, reminding him that his three minutes to testify were up.

“Your time is up now, so I understand that you are not done, but you have three minutes to testify on this item,” Hodgins told Salem. “You’re welcome to come back and testify on the next item, but your three minutes are now up.”

Salem responded by thanking U’U-Hodgins, adding, “That’s why, I’ll stop there.”

No other testimony was heard on the items and the committee moved to adopt resolution 24-71 with a motion from Yuki Lei Sugimura that was seconded by Tom Cook.

Members Gabriel Johnson, Keani Rawlins-Fernandez, and Tamara Paltin were not present at the meeting and the resolution passed with 5 votes, the minimum for a quorum.

The GREAT committee moved on to resolution 24-81, which related to a settlement with Salem for breach of contract, unlawful termination, and tortious injury.

“Mr. Salem submitted a settlement proposal a while ago,” Gores said before deferring to the special counsel and ultimately going into executive session to discuss the settlement.

After reconvening from executive session, the GREAT committee moved to adopt resolution 24-81 and move it on to the County Council for consideration.

The amount approved in the resolution for a settlement with Salem was not included in meeting records.