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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Group of tennants seeks to intervene in suit against HRPT Properties

Advertiser Staff

A coalition representing businesses leasing industrial land on Oçahu from HRPT Properties Trust is seeking to intervene in a lawsuit HRPT filed in federal court last month against the state over a recently enacted law affecting HRPT leases.

The group, Citizens for Fair Valuation, yesterday filed a motion to join the state in defending the suit that challenges the law’s constitutionality.
Representing the coalition are attorneys Jon Van Dyke, Sherry Broder, Jay Fidell and Keith Agena.
The law affects some of the more than 180 businesses that lease land from Massachusetts-based HRPT in Mäpunapuna and Kalihi Kai.
HRPT has said the law interferes with its rental contracts in violation of the U.S. Constitution, and if enforced would allow tenants to pay less rent than they do currently.
The law mandates that the type and intensity of use on land leased from HRPT be considered when setting rental rates, and that rent must be fair and reasonable to the landlord and tenant.