Yes, victims can sue the City and County of Honolulu for rape or sexual assault by a city firefighter through a civil lawsuit. Hawaii law allows claims against both the individual employee and the city as employer when a workplace assault is alleged. The Honolulu Fire Department, the city fire agency, is at the center of the current case.
According to a video news report on YouTube, the lawsuit names the City and County of Honolulu and Battalion Chief Blake Takahashi. It alleges sexual assault of a civilian city employee at HFD headquarters on Valentine's Day last year. All Hawaii News, summarizing Hawaii News Now reporting in an All Hawaii News summary of Hawaii News Now reporting, says police arrested a 49-year-old chief on Feb. 18, 2025.
Official resources:
- Read the official guidance from Cornell — Use this primary source to verify the official guidance.
- Read the official guidance from Honolulu — Use this primary source to verify the official guidance.
Table of Contents
- What does the HFD lawsuit allege?
- Can you sue the city as an employer?
- What is Hawaii's two-year notice rule?
- What steps can victims take now?
What does the HFD lawsuit allege?
An All Hawaii News roundup of Civil Beat reporting says the civil complaint alleges city officials protected the accused chief. The same roundup says the Honolulu Prosecutor's Office declined to file criminal charges. Maximum Hawaii, citing the Honolulu Police Department, says HFD placed the battalion chief on temporary leave. It says the department was cooperating with police and the chief was released the same day pending investigation.
Hawaii Free Press News Read says the employee sought a temporary restraining order over the alleged Feb. 14 assault. It is a court order for short-term protection. City Fire Department minutes carried an update on the alleged incident into 2026, with a final update in mid-2026.
Can you sue the city as an employer?
This case is an individual civil lawsuit, not a class action with a claim form. Readers should not wait for a settlement notice to protect their rights. According to the Cornell Legal Information Institute, Hawaii precedent lets a worker assaulted by a coworker sue the employer. The precedent allows claims for sexual harassment, negligent supervision, assault and battery, and emotional distress.
The example is Arquero v. Hilton Hawaiian Village LLC, described in a Cornell Legal Information Institute summary. A victim must still link the city to the harm, often through supervision or workplace safety failures. Liability is not automatic and turns on the facts of each case. Early legal advice matters because theories and proof differ by workplace.
What is Hawaii's two-year notice rule?
HRS means Hawaii Revised Statutes, the state's written laws. According to Justia, HRS Section 46-72 requires an injured person to give specified written notice within two years after injury. It applies before a Hawaii county can face liability for an official or employee's negligence, as shown in the 2022 Hawaii Revised Statutes Section 46-72 text.
Missing the notice can block a claim against the county, even with strong facts. Do not rely on a police report or internal complaint as a substitute for the required written notice. Filing a lawsuit has separate court deadlines in addition to the notice. A local employment attorney can check which dates control your case.
What steps can victims take now?
There is no public claim form or payout fund described for this case. Victims pursue individual civil claims rather than joining a settlement list.
Protect evidence and deadlines from the start: Save everything and get advice early, even if criminal charges were not filed. City Fire Department minutes show the department tracked the alleged February 14 incident into mid-2026.
- Write down dates, places, names, and witnesses while memory is fresh
- Keep police, medical, TRO, and work records in one folder
- Ask an attorney quickly about the two-year county notice and filing dates
- Avoid direct contact with the accused and save any messages