Board of Land and Natural Resources v. Crabtree. Petition for Writs of Mandamus and Prohibition, filed 08/09/2023. S.Ct. Order Denying Petition, filed 08/24/2023 [ada].

# Hawaii Supreme Court Ruling Summary: Board of Land and Natural Resources v. Crabtree **What Happened** The Board of Land and Natural Resources, a state agency in Hawaii, filed a legal petition asking a court to overturn a lower court decision and prevent further proceedings. The Sierra Club opposed this petition. **What the Court Decided** Hawaii's Supreme Court rejected the Board's petition on August 24, 2023, finding it had no legal merit. The court determined the petition was frivolous—meaning it lacked a reasonable basis. As a penalty for filing a weak case, the court ordered the Board to pay the Sierra Club's attorney fees. **Why This Matters for Workers** This case shows that courts can hold government agencies accountable when they file unfounded legal claims. The decision also demonstrates that workers and organizations defending themselves against questionable government actions have legal protections, including the ability to recover costs when they successfully defend against weak cases. This encourages agencies to carefully consider whether their legal challenges have genuine merit before pursuing them.