Nakagawa V. Apana

On October 31, 1967, plaintiff-appellee, Hiroshi Nakagawa, an employee of Johnson Pacific Company (hereinafter referred to as Johnson Pacific), was working on the roof of the Maui Community College Building when he was struck by a bucket of cement. The cement bucket was being lifted to the roof of the building by a crane owned by the defendant-appellant, Helen Apana, and operated by Rusty Apana. His signalman was Joseph Kaiwi. Both Kaiwi and Rusty Apana were employees of the defendant. Suit was filed against the owner of the crane for the negligence of its employees on the theory of respondeat superior. The jury found for the plaintiff and awarded damages in the amount of $190,000.