Bert S. Sakuda

(808) 201-6625 Contact Us

Practice Areas

  • Automobile
  • Aviation
  • Insurance
  • Personal Injury
  • Products Liability

BIOGRAPHY

Bert S. Sakuda joined the firm in 1979 and is now one of our senior lawyers.  He has held the highest rating for legal ability, given to him by other lawyers and judges in Hawaii, since 1994. 

Bert grew up in Kapahulu just a few minutes’ walk from Waikiki.  A proud graduate of Kaimuki High and UH Manoa, for both his bachelor’s and law degrees, he is a life-long local resident who understands our island life.  Bert has represented residents, visitors and military personnel who were seriously injured or killed for the past forty-five years.  He chose personal injury law because he understands the impact of serious injury on both the individual and their family.  When Bert was just a child, his own father was rendered a quadriplegic when his spinal cord was damaged during surgery.  Having lived in a family where the only working parent became disabled and wheelchair bound, with his mother needing to stay home to provide 24-hour care, he knows first-hand the human suffering, sacrifice, and financial hardship that affects every aspect of life for the entire family.  Back then, a malpractice lawsuit was not even a consideration so his family did the best they could.

This experience drives Bert to help those who have been injured, or lost loved ones, obtain the financial recovery needed to live their best lives possible under the circumstances.  He has helped to recover hundreds of millions of dollars for our clients.  He has been recognized as one of the top lawyers in Hawaii since 1994; and voted Lawyer of the Year thirteen times by Hawaii lawyers and judges, in the fields of plaintiffs personal injury litigation, plaintiffs product liability litigation, plaintiffs mass torts/class actions, and insurance law, as published by The Best Lawyers In America and in Honolulu Magazine. 

Bert has won multiple landmark cases in state and federal courts.  He has also spoken at more than sixty-five (65) legal education seminars and programs for lawyers, judges, legislators, insurance claims adjusters, insurance agents, law students and the general public.  He has been an active participant in the legislative process for laws protecting the rights of those injured by others since 1986; and been a member of numerous state and federal court committees.   

EDUCATION

  • University of Hawaii at Manoa, B.A., 1975
  • William S. Richardson School of Law, J.D., 1979

BAR ADMISSIONS

  • Hawaii State Courts, 1979
  • U.S. District Court (Hawaii), 1979
  • U.S. Court of Appeals (9th Circuit), 1981
  • U.S. Supreme Court, 1987

HONORS AND RECOGNITIONS

  • Martindale-Hubbell rating: AV, 1994
  • Best Lawyers in America, Lawyer of the Year Awards:
    • Insurance Law – 2025
    • Product Liability Litigation–Plaintiffs – 2024
    • Mass Torts/Class Actions-Plaintiffs -2023
    • Product Liability Litigation–Plaintiffs – 2021
    • Mass Torts/Class Actions-Plaintiffs -2021
    • Personal Injury Litigation-Plaintiffs – 2019
    • Mass Torts/Class Actions-Plaintiffs -2018
    • Product Liability Litigation–Plaintiffs – 2018
    • Mass Torts/Class Actions-Plaintiffs -2016
    • Product Liability Litigation–Plaintiffs – 2016
    • Personal Injury Litigation-Plaintiffs – 2015
    • Mass Torts/Class Actions-Plaintiffs -2014
    • Product Liability Litigation–Plaintiffs – 2013
  • Super Lawyers – 2014
  • Hawaii State Legislature, 2014 Lawyer of the Year Commendation and Recognition  

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

  • Hawaii State Bar Association
    • Member 1979 – Present
    • Board of Directors 1999 – 2001
    • Legislation Committee, Chair, 1993 – 2000
    • Legislation Committee, Member, 1989 – 1992
    • Strategic Planning Committee, Member, 2000 – 2001
    • Outstanding Volunteer Award, June 1995
    • Tort Reform Sub-Committee, Member, 1988
  • American Bar Association
    • Member 1979 – Present
    • Litigation Section Legislation Sub-Committee, 1991
  • Federal Bar Association, Member 1979 – Present
  • Consumer Lawyers of Hawaii
    • Member 1990 – 1999
    • Board of Governors, 1996 – 1999
    • Legislation Committee, Member, 1997 – 1999
    • No-Fault Committee, Chair, 1996
    • Lawyer of the Year, 1996
  • Hawaii Association For Justice
    • Board of Directors, Member, 2000-present
    • Legislation Committee, Member, 2000-2023
  • Association of Trial Lawyers of America
    • Member 1979 – Present

PROFESSIONAL APPOINTMENTS

  • United States District Court, Magistrate Selection Committee, Chair, 2017
  • United States District Court, Magistrate Kurren Retention Committee, Member, 2007
  • Hawaii State Judiciary-Hawaii State Bar Association Bench Bar Committee, Member, 2000
  • United States District Court, Local Rules Committee, Member, 2000 – 2001
  • Hawaii Supreme Court Civil Jury Instructions Committee, Member, 1997 – Present
  • Hawaii Supreme Court Early Conference Committee, Member, 1997
  • Citizens Justice Conference, Member, 1996
  • Hawaii Supreme Court Standing Committee on Appellate Rules, Member, 1994 – 1997
  • Citizens Conference on Judicial Selection, Member, 1993
  • Hawaii State Judicial Conference, Delegate and Alternate, 1989 – 1995
  • Hawaii Supreme Court Resolution 15 (Discovery Master) Committee, Member, 1989 – 1990
  • Court Annexed Arbitration Program, Arbitrator, 1986  Present

REPRESENTATIVE CASES

  • Yukumoto v. Tawahara, 140 Hawaii 285, 400 P.3d 486 (2017)(Amicus Brief for Hawaii Assn for Justice)
  • Tri-S Corp. v. World Insurance Co., 110 Hawaii 473, 135 P.3d 82 (2006)
  • Liberty Mutual Fire Insurance Co. v. Dennison, 108 Hawaii 380, 120 P.3d 1115 (2005)
  • Weber v. Indemnity Insurance Co. of North America, 345 F.Supp.2d 1139 (D. Hawaii 2004)
  • McKenzie v. Hawaii Permanente, 98 Haw. 296, 47 P.3d 1209 (2002)
  • Macabio v. TIG Insurance Co., 87 Haw. 307, 955 P.2d 100 (1998)
  • Abramson v. Aetna Insurance Co., 76 F.3d 304 (9th Circuit, 1996)
  • Allstate Insurance Co. v. Hirose, 77 Haw. 362, 884 P.2d 1138 (1994)
  • Wong-Leong v. HIRI, 76 Haw. 433, 879 P.2d 538 (1994)
  • State Farm v. Ishigo, 944 F.2d 909 (9th Cir. 1991)
  • Mollena v. Fireman’s Fund Insurance Co., 72 Haw. 314, 816 P.2d 968 (1991)
  • Ganiron v. Hawaii Insurance Guaranty Assn., 69 Haw. 432, 744 P.2d 1210 (1987)
  • Noguchi v. Nakamura, 2 Haw. App. 522, 638 P.2d 1183 (1982)
  • Cariaga v. Del Monte Corp., 65 Haw. 404, 652 P.2d 1143 (1982)
  • Kenyon v. U.S., 676 F.2d 1229 (9th Cir.  1981)
  • Peters v. Peters, 63 Haw. 653, 634 P.2d 586 (1981)

COURSES AND SEMINARS GIVEN (Speaker, panel member)

  • Honolulu Association of Insurance Professionals, Insurance Company & Agent Liability in the Sale of UM & UIM Coverages, October 10, 2019.
  • Hawaii State Judiciary, CAAP Arbitrator’s Training Conference, September 20, 2019.
  • HSBA-CLE, June 2019 Personal Injury Practice Law & Procedure Update, June 18, 2019.
  • HSBA-CLE, Personal Injury Practice Legislative Update & Neuropsychology Seminar, November 14, 2018.
  • HSBA-CLE, June 2018 Personal Injury Law & Procedure Update, June 21, 2018.
  • HSBA-CLE, Personal Injury Law & Procedure 2017 Update, August 16, 2017.
  • HSBA-CLE, Ethics for Plaintiffs’ Personal Injury Practice, August 11, 2017.
  • HSBA-CLE, Personal Injury Law & Procedure 2016 Update, November 25, 2016.
  • Hawaii State Bar Association, 2016 Civil Law Forum, Legislative Update, September 20, 2016.
  • Hawaii State Judiciary, CAAP Arbitrator’s Training Conference, October 2, 2015.
  • Hawaii State Bar Association, 2014 Civil Law Forum, Disclosure of Medical Records after Cohan v. Ayabe, October 21, 2014.
  • Hawaii State Judiciary, CAAP Arbitrator’s Training Conference, September 26, 2014.
  • HSBA Bar Convention, 2013 Medicare Lien & Set-Aside Law & Procedure, September 27, 2013.
  • Hawaii State Judiciary, CAAP Arbitrator’s Training Conference, October 5, 2012.
  • Hawaii State Judiciary & Trial Judges Assn., Annual Judicial Education Conference, Medical liens in personal injury litigation, December 2010.
  • Hawaii Claims Association, Unfair Claims Settlement Practices Act, February 28, 2007.
  • Island Insurance Company, Unfair Claims Settlement Practices Act, December 14, 2006.
  • Fall 2007 Judicial Conference, Government Liability, November 16, 2006.
  • HSBA Bar Convention, 2006 Motor Vehicle Collision Manual Panel Member, October 25, 2006.
  • International Bioethics Conference, St. Francis Medical Malpractice Conference, August 17-18, 2006.
  • Spring 2006 Judicial Conference, Insurance, May 4, 2006.
  • Kapiolani Community College, You and the Law in Hawai`i, February 17, 2006.
  • Hawaii State Judiciary, CAAP Arbitrator’s Training Conference, October 28, 2005.
  • Island Insurance Company, Bad Faith and the Covered Loss Deductible, December 2, 2004.
  • Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters and Hawaii Independent Insurance Agents Association, Uninsured & Underinsured Coverage Issues, November 10, 2004.
  • Hawaii State Judiciary,  CAAP Arbitrators Conference, The Covered Loss Deductible, Maui: November 8, 2004; Kona: November 6, 2004; Hilo: November 5, 2004; Oahu: October 29, 2004; Kauai: October 26, 2004.
  • Supreme Court of Hawaii and HSBA, Mandatory Course on Professionalism, May 22, 2004.
  • HSBA-CLE, Joint Tortfeasor Update [Hot Topics in Litigation], October 29, 2003.
  • Pacific Law Institute, Annual Tort Law Update, July 18, 2003.
  • Supreme Court of Hawaii and HSBA, Mandatory Course on Professionalism, May 24, 2003.
  • HSBA-CLE, Act 300 Joint Tortfeasor Law (Hot Topics in Litigation), October 17, 2002.
  • HSBA, Bench/Bar Conference, Act 300 Panel Member, November 22, 2002.
  • Supreme Court of Hawaii and the Hawaii State Bar Association, Mandatory Course on Professionalism, May 25, 2002.
  • Island Insurance Company, Bad Faith and Act 300, December 5, 2001.
  • Supreme Court of Hawaii and the Hawaii State Bar Association, Mandatory Course on Professionalism, November 17, 2001.
  • Hawaii State Judiciary & Trial Judges Assn., Act 300 Joint Tortfeasor Law, Annual Judicial Education Conference, November 16, 2001.
  • Hawaii State Bar Association, Bench/Bar Conference, Federal Court Civil Group, Participant on Proposed Revised Local Rules, September 28, 2001.
  • HSBA-CLE, Act 300 Joint Tortfeasor Law (Hot Topics in Litigation), September 27, 2001.
  • Hawaii Claims Managers Association, Act 300 Good Faith Settlement Act, September 7, 2001.
  • Hawaii State Bar Association-CLE, Hawaii Motor Vehicle Collision Manual (2d Ed.), October 13, 1999.
  • Pacific Law Institute, The Newly Amended Auto Liability and Insurance Law, October 19, 1998.
  • William S. Richardson Law School Alumni Assn., New Automobile Insurance Law, March 7, 1998.
  • Hawaii Public Television, Dialog, with Dan Boylan, Auto Insurance Law, March 6, 1998.
  • Island Insurance Company, New Automobile Insurance Law, February 17, 1998.
  • Workers’ Compensation Division, City and County of Honolulu, New Automobile Insurance Law, January 21, 1998.
  • Hawaii State Chiropractic Assn., New Motor Vehicle Administrative Rules, January 8, 1998.
  • Pacific Law Institute, New Hawaii Motor Vehicle Administrative Rules, December 4, 1997.
  • Hawaii Claim Association, New Automobile Insurance Law, October 21, 1997.
  • Hawaii Institute for Continuing Legal Education, New Hawaii No-Fault Law, July 15, 1997.
  • Hawaii Institute for Continuing Legal Education, Hot Topics in Torts, June 21, 1997.
  • Pacific Law Institute, New Auto Liability & Insurance Law, June 17, 1997.
  • Pacific Law Institute, Annual Seminar on Tort Law, October 12, 1996.
  • Pacific Law Institute, Annual Seminar on Tort Law, September 23, 1995.
  • Hawaii Claim Association, Recent Hawaii Case Law, September 22, 1995.
  • Pacific Law Institute, No-Fault Fee Schedule & Guidelines, November 17, 1994.
  • Hawaii State Judiciary, Statewide Training for Arbitrators, June 12, 1993.
  • Hawaii Claim Association, No-Fault Law, May 11, 1993.
  • Pacific Law Institute, Medical Fee Schedule & Treatment Guidelines Under the No-Fault Law, February 25, 1993.
  • Hawaii Claim Association, The New Hawaii No-Fault Law, Sept. 25, 1992.
  • Hawaii Institute for Continuing Legal Education, The New Hawaii No-Fault Law, July 31, 1992.
  • Pacific Law Institute, The New No-Fault Law, June 27, 1992.
  • Hawaii State Judiciary & Trial Judges Assn., Automobile Insurance Law, May 28, 1992.
  • Hawaii State Judiciary & Trial Judges Assn., Annual Judicial Education Conference, December 5-6, 1991.
  • Hawaii State Trial Judges Assn., Insurance Litigation, March 8, 1991.
  • Hawaii Claim Association, Tort Reform Legislation, September 28, 1990.
  • State House of Representatives Consumer Protection Committee, Legislative Informational Hearing on NoFault Insurance, Nov. 29, 1989.
  • Pacific Law Institute, Annual Seminar on Tort Law, May 6, 1989.