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Civil procedure

special exceptions

While the purpose of a plaintiff’s petition or complaint is to inform the court and the defendant of what the plaintiff’s claims will be at trial, the purpose of special exceptions is to force clarification and specification in the pleadings when they are not clear, or sufficiently specific, or fail to plead a cause of action.

In Hawaii, as in many jurisdictions, the initial pleading filed by a plaintiff is known as a complaint, which sets forth the plaintiff's claims and the factual basis for those claims. The purpose of the complaint is to provide notice to the defendant of the claims against them and to establish the basis for the court's jurisdiction. If a defendant believes that the complaint is vague, ambiguous, or lacks sufficient detail, they may file a motion for a more definite statement, which is similar to the concept of 'special exceptions' in other jurisdictions. This motion compels the plaintiff to clarify or specify the allegations so that the defendant can adequately respond. Hawaii Rules of Civil Procedure (HRCP) govern these procedures, and Rule 12(e) specifically allows a party to move for a more definite statement when a pleading is so vague or ambiguous that a party cannot reasonably be required to frame a response.

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Civil procedure

special exceptions

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Hawaii State Code

Hawaii State Code

Civil procedure

special exceptions

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