Manglona suspends Quichocho from law practice in federal court

U.S. District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona has suspended lawyer Ramon K. Quichocho from the practice of law in federal court for a period of three years.

Manglona issued the suspension order last Aug. 13, but unsealed that order only on Tuesday.

On May 28, 2014, Superior Court Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho issued an order suspending Quichocho’s license to practice law for three years for professional misconduct by using a legal tool to harass a former client to get payment. Camacho’s decision took effect 30 days after the order.

Quichocho

Last July 9, Manglona ordered respondent Quichocho to show cause why the identical discipline should not be imposed in federal court.

Manglona said her show cause order was mailed to the respondent the following day, July 10.

In her order suspending Quichocho, Manglona said more than 30 days have passed, and respondent has not requested a hearing.

Wherefore, the judge said, pursuant to Local Disciplinary Rule 16(c), Quichocho is suspended from the practice of law in the District for the NMI for three years.

The suspension will be effective 30 days after the entry of the order, Manglona said.

“Respondent must comply with all requirements of Local Disciplinary Rule 17 consistent with his duties as a suspended attorney,” the judge said.

After expiry of the period of suspension, Manglona said, Quichocho may not resume practice until reinstated by federal court’s order pursuant to Local Disciplinary Rule 18.

In Camacho’s suspension order, the judge noted that Quichocho’s actions were not based in negligence or mistake, but instead were intentional, calculated to obtain payment from a former client through the misuse of legal mechanisms. Camacho said Quichocho’s conduct warrants a serious sanction, but finds that disbarment is too severe given the persuasive decisions of other courts faced with fact patterns similar to the case at hand.

Camacho said the respondent shall not be reinstated unless he provides proof that he has passed the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination with a scaled score of 80 or higher within one year prior to his application for reinstatement.

Quichocho was required to comply with all requirements of Rule 15 of the Disciplinary Rules and Procedures of the CNMI Supreme Court. He was ordered to pay all costs and attorney’s fees in connection with the case.

The case rises out of allegations that Quichocho violated provisions of the Model Rules of Professional Conduct by acting in concert with his wife, Frances, and his uncle, Felipe Atalig, to submit a series of Open Government Meetings and Records Act requests to his former client, the Municipality of Tinian and Aguiguan, in order to press the client to make payments for legal services.

Last July 30, Quichocho informed the Superior Court that he is currently in Tacoma, Washington and that he already closed down his office on Saipan.

Last July 15, Camacho ordered the disbarment of Quichocho from the practice of law in CNMI courts for professional misconduct in representing his then-client, Jung Ja Kim.

Last March 28, a federal jury reached a unanimous verdict, holding Quichocho and his wife, and his law firm liable to pay $2.4 million in damages to Kim, who filed a racketeering lawsuit against them.

Last July, Superior Court Associate Judge David A. Wiseman also ordered a public reprimand against Quichocho for professional misconduct in connection with another Bar complaint.