A Hawaii judge has trimmed a legal fight that revealed a rift among Office of Hawaiian Affairs trustees, siding with the agency's leadership.

• A judge narrowed the case so the Office of Hawaiian Affairs is now the only defendant.
• The ruling backs the board's authority to control how the agency defends itself.
• The fight started when former OHA CEO Stacy Ferrer sued after being put on paid leave last year.
• Four trustees had filed their own answer in the case, but the judge struck it and dismissed all claims against them.
• The judge also let the law firm Dentons US keep representing OHA.

Outlook: Ferrer's lawsuit will move ahead with OHA as the lone defendant.