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Inos, govt ask court to OK $6.5M settlement deal with Hawaii law firm
The CNMI government, through the Office of the Attorney General, has requested the federal court to approve the $6.5-million settlement agreement with Betty Johnson’s Hawaii-based counsel Bronster Hoshibata law firm.
Gov. Eloy S. Inos, Finance Secretary Larrisa Larson, CNMI government and Finance, through assistant attorney general Teresita J. Sablan, informed the U.S. District Court for the NMI on Friday that they join Bronster Hoshibata’s motion for approval of the attorney’s fee deal.
Sablan said the Commonwealth maintains its position that Bronster Hoshibata law firm’s fees should be limited to the lodestar amount without a multiplier.
However, Sablan said, the Commonwealth also recognizes that, if left to decide the matter, U.S. District Court for the NMI designated judge Frances Tydingco-Gatewood could award an amount much greater than the lodestar.
Sablan said the agreed upon settlement takes into account the parties’ positions on the fee matter and is a fair compromise of attorney fees for Bronster Hoshibata.
The Inos administration has agreed to settle Bronster Hoshibata’s petition for attorney’s fees and costs for payment of $6.5 million (to be paid over three years).
Bronster Hoshibata’s original demand was for $17.5 million to be paid through installment.
The administration also settled for $185,000 and $800,000 the petitions for attorney’s fees and costs filed by Johnson’s other counsels Stephen C. Woodruff and Bruce Jorgensen, respectively.
The court had already approved Woodruff’s settlement deal. Jorgensen’s and Bronster Hoshibata’s settlements are still subject to court’s approval.
The court placed under advisement Johnson’s San Rafael, California-based counsel Timothy Lord’s application for payment of fees. His initial demand was either $3.6 million or $5.9 million. The CNMI opposed granting fees to Lord.
