Overview
David A. Imanaka is a partner in the firm’s litigation department, where he brings a dogged, resolution-oriented approach to complex legal issues and cases, offering effective and proactive solutions to his clients. His practice spans high-value construction defect litigation, including residential/commercial high-rises and subdivisions, to real property boundary disputes, to insurance defense for condominiums and employers.
Before joining the firm, Mr. Imanaka gained valuable experience in personal injury litigation, estate planning, and healthcare law, including healthcare compliance research, drafting administrative policies, and assisting with the development and implementation of healthcare enterprise software systems. He is fluent in spoken Japanese.
Outside of work, Mr. Imanaka is an avid hobbyist guitar-player and tennis player; his passions also include bouldering and mixology.
Experience
Construction Litigation
- Defended major developers and landowners in multi-million dollar design and construction defect lawsuits to resolution, spanning a variety of issues including but not limited to plumbing, HVAC, structural, building envelope/wind rating, fire protection, electrical, accessibility, waterproofing, and sound transmission issues.
- Represented general contractor in successful subrogation recovery against an HVAC subcontractor, securing post-settlement damages, prejudgment interest, and attorneys’ fees and costs.
- Represented boutique ultra-luxury hotel/timeshare company in simultaneous construction contract and defect litigation brought by contractors and subcontractors.
- Represented medical facility owners in recovering treble damages and attorneys’ fees and costs against general contractor for defective work.
- Successfully recovered lost deposits and attorneys’ fees for condominium associations against contractors for incomplete work.
Real Estate Litigation
- Represented major landowner in quiet title action involving Kuleana lands and fractional interests involving more than 50+ individual parties nationwide.
- Defended internationally-renowned fashion brand in landlord-tenant lease dispute during COVID lockdowns to favorable resolution.
- Prosecuted claims on behalf of individual homeowner to successful recovery of repair costs against upslope neighbor and insurer.
Insurance Litigation
- Successful defense of thirteen separate litigants in a condominium jury trial involving retaliation, defamation, and breach of fiduciary duty claims, among others.
- Defended internationally-renowned fashion brand in landlord-tenant lease dispute during COVID lockdowns to favorable resolution.
- Prosecuted claims on behalf of individual homeowner to successful recovery of repair costs against upslope neighbor and insurer.
- Alexander & Baldwin, Inc.
- CNA Insurance Co.
- Elements of Hospitality, Inc.
- First Mercury Insurance Co.
- Hawaii Plumbing Group
- HiClimb LLC
- Houston Casualty Company
- Hawaii Reserves/Brigham Young University – Hawaii
- Ironshore Specialty Insurance Company
- J.A. Weir & Associates
- JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A.
- Marriott Kauai Ownership Resorts, Inc.
- Moss & Associates
- Island Insurance Company, Ltd.
- Timbers Resorts
- Tradewind Capital, Inc.
- U.S. Liability Insurance
- Zurich Insurance Co
- Developers and Landowners: Defended in construction defect and Contractor Repair Act lawsuits.
- Condominium Associations: Recovered lost deposits and attorneys’ fees for incomplete contractor work.
- Medical Facilities: Secured treble damages and fees for defective construction claims.
- International Brands: Defended in landlord-tenant disputes during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- General Contractors: Represented in subrogation claims against subcontractors.
Honors
- Graduate, Hawaii Federal Trial Academy, Class of 2023
- Best Lawyers – Ones to Watch, 2025-2026
- Honolulu Business Emerging Legal Stars, 2024
Affiliations
- Hawaii State Bar Association, Member (since 2017)
- Building Industry Association, Member (since 2020)
- Urban Land Institute, Member (since 2020)
- Hawaii Youth Symphony, Board Member (since 2022)
- ‘Io Society, Member (since 2016)