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Woodruff OK’d to resume as Dr. Ramsey counsel
A former Commonwealth Health Center physician’s request to let Stephen C. Woodruff resume as his counsel in a wrongful termination lawsuit against the hospital had been granted.
In her order on Wednesday, U.S. District Court for the NMI designated judge Frances Tydingco-Gatewood said that Woodruff must file an entry of appearance to confirm that he is representing Dr. Gary Ramsey.
The District Court’s clerk of court shall then designate Woodruff as lead attorney for Ramsey for electronic filing and service.
Pursuant to Tydingco-Gatewood’s order issued last March 28, Ramsey filed a declaration for the purpose of having Woodruff resume as his counsel. Woodruff has been previously disbarred.
The March 28 order allows Woodruff to resume his representation in Ramsey’s lawsuit upon the doctor’s filing of a declaration in court requesting that he do so.
Tydingco-Gatewood had suspended Woodruff from practice in the U.S. District Court for a period of one year. Tydingco-Gatewood said Woodruff may apply for reinstatement after six months.
In 2013, then-Superior Court Associate Judge David A. Wiseman disbarred Woodruff from the practice of law in the CNMI for 44 violations of the Model Rules of Professional Conduct. The judge said Woodruff may not apply for reinstatement until the expiration of at least two years. The CNMI Supreme Court affirmed the disbarment order in 2015.
Meanwhile, the Ninth Circuit was itself considering whether to impose reciprocal discipline on Woodruff. The matter was referred to the appellate commissioner, who found lack of due process, infirmity of proof, and grave risk of injustice, and recommended that the Ninth Circuit should not accord a presumption of correctness to the Commonwealth disciplinary proceedings.
Nonetheless, in light of a pattern of failures of Woodruff to meet deadlines and follow Ninth Circuit rules in various appeals, the appellate commissioner recommended imposition of alternative discipline of 18 months’ probation.
Ramsey, a former medical staff at the CHC, has a pending wrongful termination lawsuit in federal court against the CNMI government, Commonwealth Healthcare Corp., and others.
