Labor Law News

Labor And Industrial Relations Appeals Board

HONOLULU – Governor Linda Lingle has named Honolulu attorney Roland Thom and former State Representative David Pendleton to the Labor and Industrial Relations Appeals Board.  The Board conducts contested case hearings and trials concerning labor and workers compensation matters and other issues before the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations.

The Governor has designated Thom to serve as the chairman of the three-member board.  He will serve out the remainder of the 10-year term (through June 30, 2010) of the current chair, Randal Iwase, who has resigned effective May 4, 2006.  Pendleton’s term will run from July 1, 2006 to June 30, 2016.  Both positions are full-time paid positions.  The nominations are subject to Senate confirmation.

“Both Roland and David have strong backgrounds in labor law and extensive backgrounds in workers’ compensation matters,” said Governor Lingle.  “They will serve the board well and protect the rights of Hawai`i’s employees and employers.”

Roland Thom
Thom has been in private law practice for 35 years.   Since 1980, the focus of his work has been related to workers’ compensation claims.  He has worked on labor-related cases involving the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, including unemployment compensation, labor disputes, arbitration and insurance regulation and enforcement.

Thom has been with Char Hamilton Campbell & Thom Attorneys at Law since 1980.  He was formerly a partner with Cades Schutte Fleming & Wright, and was a deputy corporation council for the City and County of Honolulu.

Thom was named one of The Best Lawyers in America 2005-2006 in Workers’ Compensation Law.  He served on the Director of Labor and Industrial Relations Workers’ Compensation Rules Committee in 2004; the Governor’s Conference on Workers’ Compensation in 1985 and 1986; the State’s Medical Claims Conciliation Panel in 1985; and the Honolulu Chamber of Commerce’s Public Health Committee from 1975-1982.

Thom earned his law degree from Fordham University in New York and his undergraduate degree from the University of California at Berkeley.

David Pendleton
Pendleton served eight years (four terms) in the Hawai`i House of Representatives where he represented Kailua and Kane`ohe.  During his tenure in the State Legislature, he served as Minority Floor Leader, Minority Whip and Assistant Minority Leader.  His committee assignments included the House Labor and Public Employment Committee. He was named Legislator of the Year in 2000 by the Hawai`i Medical Association. As a current senior policy analyst for Governor Lingle, Pendleton focuses on legislation relating to the Departments of Labor and Industrial Relations, Taxation, Budget and Finance, and Hawaiian Home Lands.

Prior to being elected to public office, Pendleton practiced law and specialized in workers’ compensation issues.  He also represented clients and argued cases before the Labor and Industrial Relations Appeals Board.

Pendleton is a former school teacher, university administrator, and pastor.  He was a Pacific Century Fellow and a Henry Toll Fellow, and previously served on the board of directors of various organizations including the Filipino Chamber of Commerce, Castle Medical Center Strategic Planning Committee, and the Young Lawyers Division of the Hawai`i Bar Association.

He has been a volunteer faculty member of the Center for Tomorrow’s Leaders and is a graduate of the U.S. Marines Command and Staff College Distance Education Program at Marine Corps Base Hawai`i, the HPD Citizens Police Academy, and the East-West Center’s New Generation Seminar.

Pendleton holds a law degree from the University of Southern California, a master’s degree from Loma Linda University, and an undergraduate degree from La Sierra University.

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