Disbarred lawyer Quichocho, wife file for bankruptcy

Disbarred lawyer Ramon K. Quichocho and his wife, Frances, have filed for bankruptcy in the Western District of Washington.

Because of the bankruptcy filing, U.S. District Court for the NMI Senior Judge Alex R. Munson suspended Thursday the proceedings related to Jung Ja Kim’s motion to go after the couple’s assets in order to collect on a court judgment that holds the Quichocho couple liable to pay Kim $2.8 million in damages.

Kim’s motion asked the court to summon the Quichocho couple and force them to reveal information about their assets and those that were transferred while Kim’s racketeering lawsuit against them was ongoing.

At a hearing on Thursday, Munson informed the parties that the court has received a copy notifying it of the Quichochos bankruptcy filing.

Attorney Robert Torres appeared as counsel for Kim. Attorney Michael Dotts represented the Quichochos. Attorney Stephen Nutting stated his appearance as counsel for investor Sin Ho Nam, who asked to be allowed to intervene in the matter.

In his declaration filed last month, Quichocho says he is now self-employed and works as a truck driver in Tacoma, Washington, and that due to his financial hardship he cannot afford to make any payments to Kim.

Quichocho said he can possibly make $50 payments per month until his financial condition improves.

Quichocho made the declaration in support of his and his wife Frances’ joint opposition to Kim’s motion for order in aid of judgment.

In Kim’s motion, Torres said that Quichocho transferred 10 parcels of land on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota to his brother, Ignacio, supposedly for $30,000, while his and wife’s jury trial were ongoing in federal court.

That case eventually ended up with the Quichocho couple being held liable to pay $2.4 million in damages to Kim. The court recently awarded Kim $387,791.15 in damages, costs, and attorney’s fees. The award brings to $2.8 million the total amount that the couple is liable to pay Kim.

Torres also revealed that on Aug. 27, 2014, after the entry of final judgment in Kim’s case, Quichocho quitclaimed an additional two parcels of property on Rota consisting a total of 8,077 square meters to his uncle, Joaquin Q. Atalig, for just a dollar.

The Quichochos opposed Kim’s motion. Quichocho and Dotts asserted that the first transaction was for valuable consideration ($30,000) that the couple needed because Quichocho had essentially been forced to close his law firm on Saipan so he could defend Kim’s lawsuit.

Quichocho and Dotts said there was no judgment or lien at the time of the first transaction and, as it was for value, it would be improper for the court to now set it aside.

As for the second transaction, Quichocho and Dotts said this occurred about five months after the first transaction and happened to settle another litigation.

“Neither the first nor the second transactions were to defeat the interests of a creditor. The transactions were fair and legitimate. They were for value,” they said.

The trial in Kim’s racketeering lawsuit began on Feb. 3, 2014. On March 28, 2014, the jury reached a verdict.