The settlement resolves Frank Nyross’s Kailua property-damage claim but does not acknowledge liability. According to a letter described by KHON2, the Honolulu Board of Water Supply said its investigation could not establish that the pipe failure was reasonably foreseeable or caused by negligence. The agency said it offered a settlement to avoid the time, cost and uncertainty of continuing the dispute or going to court. Nyross did not disclose the amount and said he was satisfied with the outcome.
KHON2 reported that a water main burst in front of Nyross’s home, flooding the house and yard. BWS initially denied his claim, saying the pipe had not burst before. After KHON2’s Action Line team covered the case, the station reported, BWS contacted Nyross in June to reconsider the claim.
Main breaks across Oʻahu
BWS experienced 353 main breaks in fiscal year 2023, according to the Honolulu Board of Water Supply’s bond official statement. The utility said 29 were detected using satellite imagery and repaired before they could cause major damage or service disruption.
KHON2 reported that Nyross credited Action Line, neighbors, people who saw the coverage and area lawmakers with helping bring attention to the dispute. State Rep. Mike Lee told the station that legislators and the Honolulu City Council worked together to review the facts.
The settlement does not establish that BWS was legally at fault. The Institute for Justice’s overview of Hawaii municipal-liability standards says property-damage claims against local government generally require evidence of negligence or failure to address a known defect. BWS asks claimants to submit available supporting records, including photographs, repair invoices and estimates, according to the agency’s claim-related information.
