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OAG, Jorgensen file final draft for $800K settlement deal
The Office of the Attorney General and Betty Johnson’s original counsel, Bruce Lee Jorgensen, have filed in federal court the final draft of their agreement that settles Jorgensen’s attorney’s fees and costs in the amount of $800,000.
The OAG and Jorgensen filed the final draft of their settlement deal in the U.S. District Court for the NMI on Friday, the deadline set by designated judge Frances Tydingco-Gatewood.
The agreement was signed by Gov. Eloy S. Inos, Attorney General Joey P. San Nicolas, Jorgensen, and Jorgensen’s counsel, Mitchell F. Thompson.
According to the settlement deal, which is subject to court approval, the CNMI government shall deliver to Jorgensen’s counsel by wire transfer the sum of $250,000 upon the court’s approval of the deal, wire transfer another $250,000 on or before April 4, 2014, and $300,000 on or before Feb. 15, 2015.
Upon receipt of the first installment payment, Jorgensen is authorized to pay attorney Jared Washkowitz $4,250 for his services to the class. He is also authorized to reimburse the donation by class members to him such as $2,100 to Johnson; $600 to Teresa N. Tripp; and the amount of donation by any of the 14 class members who made a donation to David Price who now wishes to be reimbursed.
Last March 3, Frances Tydingco-Gatewood approved the CNMI government’s $185,000 settlement with Johnson’s local counsel, Stephen Woodruff, and placed under advisement the CNMI government’s settlement with Jorgensen.
Jorgensen filed billing statements alleging he spent a total of 3,891.1 hours working on the litigation. He claimed he should be paid $325 per hour for his time. He requested a total of $18,651,262.50 under the lodestar approach or $29,560,961.45 under the common fund theory.
Woodruff’s initial demand was between $1 million to $2.9 million. Johnson’s other counsel, Timothy Lord’s initial demand was either $3.6 million or $5.9 million, but the court placed it under advisement.
Bronster Hoshibata, the Hawaii-based counsel for Johnson, is demanding $17.5 million, but the court also placed the petition under advisement.
