Category Archives: Crime

Pulitzer Prizes Board hits Trump with broad demand for documents

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The headline from Law&Crime.com highlights the dangers of filing a defamation lawsuit, such as the one Trump filed against the Pulitzer Prizes Board after it declined to rescind its 2018 awards to the Washington Post and New York Times for their coverage of the investigation of Russian election interference.

Pulitzer Prize Board members dump broad discovery demands on Trump for tax returns, psych records, and ‘any’ prescription meds history

It sounds like just another boring legal filing in a Florida court case: “DEFENDANTS’ FIRST SET OF REQUESTS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF DOCUMENTS DIRECTED TO PLAINTIFF DONALD J. TRUMP”

But it’s a quiet legal bombshell tossed into the oval office.

The Pulitzer Board’s court filing sets out a long list of requested information related to Trump’s claims that he suffered immense harm from the board’s refusal to rescind the prizes to the two newspapers.

After all, since Trump alleges he has been damaged to the tune of billions of dollars, defendants in the lawsuit have every right to evaluate the claim by examining all the evidence.

And so it begins.

“All Documents and Communications Concerning…,” repeated 42 times, each one requesting information relevant to Trump’s claims that he was damaged by the Pulitzer Board’s actions. The list begins on page 5 of the court filing, in a section headed “Requests for Production.”

The full document is attached below.

But then it gets personal, as defamation cases are wont to do, seeking details of Trump’s finances and financial holdings, assets and liabilities, tax returns “from all jurisdictions,” and last but not least, all documents regarding Trump’s physical and mental health.

33. All of Your tax returns, from all jurisdictions, including all attachments, schedules, and worksheets, for tax years 2015 to the present.

34. Documents sufficient to show all sources of Your income, including but not limited to the dollar figure attributable to each source, from January 1, 2015, to present. For the avoidance of doubt, income includes earned and unearned income.

35. Documents sufficient to show all of Your financial holdings, including but not limited to the financial value of each holding, from January 1, 2015, to present.

36. Documents sufficient to show all compensation, gifts, or items of $100,000 or more in value given to you from January 1, 2015, to present.

37. Documents sufficient to show all assets, including but not limited to the financial value of each asset, held by You, from January 1, 2015, to present.

38. Documents sufficient to show all of Your financial liabilities, including but not limited to the financial value of each financial liability, from January 1, 2010, to present.

39. All Documents and Communications Concerning any financial losses You or any of Your businesses have allegedly incurred as a result of the Board Statement.

40. The “voluminous and comprehensive financial information made available” to the defendants in Donald J. Trump v. Timothy L. O’Brien, et al., Case No. L 545 06 (N.J. Super.Ct.), as referenced in Paragraph 2 of the complaint in that action. See also id. 9 19 (“Trump directed that O’Brien be given complete access to comprehensive information … detailing his holdings, assets and ownership thereof.”)

41. To the extent You seek damages for any physical ailment or mental or emotional injury arising from Counts I-IV of Your Complaint, all Documents (whether held by You or by third parties under Your control or who could produce them at your direction) concerning Your medical and/or psychological health from January 1, 2015, to present, including any prescription medications you have been prescribed or have taken. For the avoidance of doubt, this includes all Documents Concerning Your annual physical examination. To the extent you do not seek such damages in this action, please confirm so in writing.

It’s put up or shut up time for Mr. Trump.

Miske forfeiture proceeding delayed again

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The government’s forfeiture lawsuit against the estate of the late crime boss, Michael J. Miske, Jr., has been delayed again by mutual agreement of attorneys representing the government, the Miske trust, and several lenders. The parties agreed earlier this month on an additional three-month delay to allow settlement negotiations to continue through the holidays. This is on top of an earlier 5-month continuance that expired on November 9.

The agreement puts off a scheduling conference in the case until March 1, 2025. This is a hearing that will establish a timeline for the case, including deadlines for discovery, pre-trial motions, and setting future trial dates.

In a November 5 court filing, attorneys said the additional delay “would be beneficial in allowing the parties to work on a stipulated resolution of this matter that would avoid formal discovery (there are several terabytes of discovery), contested motions, and court intervention.”

The parties also disclosed their intention to hold an in-person settlement meeting, apparently their first face-to-face contact, in December or January.

The case will eventually determine who will get the property Miske owned at the time of his death. The government has identified 26 specific items targeted for forfeiture, including $4,274,497 in cash and checks, real estate appraised for tax purposes at $8.8 million, several vintage cars with an estimated value of $400,000, a 2017 Ferrari F12 Berlinetta purchased on May 30, 2020, for $219,000, and some miscellaneous works of art.

Miske’s most valuable asset is an 8,206-square-foot luxury home boasting five bedrooms and seven bathrooms on a lot overlooking the ocean on Lumahai Street in Portlock, which is appraised for real property tax purposes at $7.5 million, but could sell for substantially more.

The Miske properties have previously been estimated to be worth upwards of $13 million.

The sole beneficiary of Miske’s trust appears to be his granddaughter, identified in court records only by her initials, N.M., because she is a minor.

It has taken 10-months to complete basic tasks, identifying the parties, appraising assets, determining the amounts owed on outstanding loans, and simply “digesting the underlying facts of a case of this breadth” in order to engage in meaningful settlement negotiations.

Attorneys also said they are working on an “agreeable procedure” for sale of Miske’s 37-foot Boston Whaler, Painkiller, and his collection of cars, including a 2017 Ferrari F12 Berlinetta, a 1970 Ford Bronco, and four vintage Volkswagens (1951, 1956, 1957, 1961). The law allows sale of assets that “perishable or at risk of deterioration, decay, or injury” during the pending proceedings, or where the cost of maintenance is “disproportionate” to the market value. Proceeds of any sale would be held pending distribution as part of an overall settlement.

A federal jury convicted Miske last year following a 6-month trial on 13 criminal counts including racketeering conspiracy, murder, kidnapping and assault. The jury then decided his properties should be forfeited to the government because the were obtained, in whole or in part, with proceeds of his racketeering enterprise. However, the entire case, from the indictment to the convictions and forfeiture order, was vacated after he was found dead in his cell in December 2024, a month before his scheduled sentencing, forcing the government to proceed by filing its civil forfeiture lawsuit seeking staking its claim to the same properties.

Also see:

“Miske To Forfeit More Than $20 Million In Assets To Government, Jury Rules,” Civil Beat, July 24, 2024.

“The Case Against Mike Miske Could Be About To Disappear As If It Never Happened,” Civil Beat, December 10, 2024

“Miske’s Trust: A Look At His Moves To Control His Fortune From The Grave,” Civil Beat, May 16, 2025.

“With sound mind….” iLind.net, May 16, 2025.

“Miske Case: Prosecutors Agree To Negotiate Settlement Over Asset Forfeiture“, Civil Beat, June 11, 2025.

“The future of Miske’s fortune remains unsettled,” iLind.net, October 20, 2025.

Another report from Union Mall and an update on my 2026 morning dog calendars

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Don’t miss Stewart Yerton’s latest on the situation in the building at 1136 Union Mall, which was published Sunday morning (“Unofficial Security Guard Arrested At ‘Hell Hole’ Honolulu Office Building“). This is the first arrest at the building despite repeated allegations of assaults and thefts of property by Elijah McShane and at least two others acting as unlicensed security guards at the property.

Among the many other questions about the situation, are there penalties for using a property owner using unlicensed individuals acting as security guards?

Meanwhile, I spent much of yesterday trying to finalize the selection of photos for my annual calendars, and managed to make the final selections for two volumes of Kahala Morning Dogs and get them properly formatted.

Today I have to upload the photos and set up the calendars. Everyone who has a dog in the calendar receives a copy os a gift, and a handful of people order additional copies. Those should be available within a day or two. I’ll post a link when they’re ready.

Click on either cover photo to see the featured dogs!

Kahala Morning Dogs 2026

(More) Kahala Morning Dogs 2026

New charges being considered in probate fraud case

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It has been nearly six months since Robert Earl Chapman, the former managing partner of a large downtown Honolulu law firm, was indicted on 22 counts stemming from the alleged theft of property held by the estate of a deceased client.

Chapman has pleaded “not guilty” to the charges, although his attorney, Myles Breiner, has indicated in a court filing that a change of plea is “probable.”

According to the indictment, Chapman went to court in 2018 to obtain authority as the “personal representative” of a Honolulu man who had died two years previously.

He then allegedly used fraudulently created or altered documents to transfer property valued at $750,000 from the estate to himself or to a company in which he was the sole officer.

Court records show at least one plea offer has been made by prosecutors, and negotiations over terms of a plea agreement are ongoing and a trial date has been postponed several times.

Chapman has been free after posting a $1 million bail bond. He and his wife took out a $1 million mortgage on their Lanikai home to secure the bond.

More than two years before his indictment, Chapman gave up his license to practice law in lieu of being disbarred by the Hawaii Supreme Court following a lengthy investigation of a different case of probate fraud.

Now, with a possible plea deal still in limbo, prosecutors appear to be ready to play hardball by adding at least one additional charge.

During a court hearing two weeks ago, prosecutors said an additional charge is being considered.

“State updated the court as to a potential new criminal case,” according to minutes of the October 20 hearing. A further update “as to the additional charge” will be provided at a hearing February 6, 2026, the hearing minutes available online show.

There is no other indication of what the additional charge or new criminal case might be.

Meanwhile, Chapman has been traveling.

He requested and received court approval to travel out of state on two different trips since he was charged in June.

He was allowed to fly to Massachusetts, and then drive through New Hampshire and on to Maine between September 21 and October 11. This is considered the best time for “leaf peeping,” or traveling to enjoy view of vibrant colors of the fall folliage.

He has also received court approval to spend five weeks in New Zealand visiting his grandchildren between December 8 and January 13, 2026.

Also see:

Fraud allegations lead to resignation of prominent business attorney, December 29, 2022.

Former Honolulu attorney indicted in alleged $750K probate fraud, iLind.net, June 21, 2025.