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OAG, Woodruff file final draft of $185K settlement deal
The Office of the Attorney General and Betty Johnson’s local counsel, Stephen Woodruff, have filed in federal court the final draft of their settlement agreement totaling $185,000 for Woodruff’s attorney’s fees and costs.
The OAG and Woodruff filed the final draft of the settlement agreement on Friday in the U.S. District Court for the NMI. The agreement was signed by Gov. Eloy Inos and Woodruff. OAG Civil Division chief Gilbert Birnbrich signed for Attorney General Joey San Nicolas.
According to the settlement deal, the CNMI shall pay Woodruff $185,000 on or before May 2, 2014, “in full satisfaction of its obligation to pay to Woodruff attorney’s fees and reimbursement of costs” under the settlement agreement in Johnson’s class action.
U.S. District Court for the NMI designated judge Frances Tydingco-Gatewood approved on March 3 the CNMI government’s settlement with Woodruff, and placed under advisement the CNMI government’s settlement with Johnson’s original counsel, Bruce Lee Jorgensen.
The CNMI government has agreed to pay Woodruff $185,000 and Jorgensen $800,000 for their representation of Johnson’s class action. The two settlement agreements are subject to court approval.
Although she approved the deal with Woodruff, Tydingco-Gatewood gave Woodruff and the CNMI government until Friday, March 7, to submit the final draft of the settlement accord.
The judge ordered the government and Jorgensen to submit the final draft of their settlement agreement on or before March 14, 2014.
Jorgensen’s initial request was for at least $18.6 million, while Woodruff was between $1 million to $2.9 million. Johnson’s other counsel, Timothy Lord, made an initial demand for either $3.6 million or $5.9 million.
Bronster Hoshibata, the Hawaii-based counsel for Johnson, is demanding $17.5 million, but the court placed the petition under advisement.
