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‘Irreconcilable differences’ lead to Cui losing counsel
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Posted on Nov 12 2021
Imperial Pacific International (CNMI) LLC former chair Cui Li Jie has lost another lawyer, this time due to “irreconcilable differences.”
David Lujan of Lujan & Wolff, LLP filed a notice of motion and motion to withdraw as Cui’s attorney in the lawsuit of seven construction workers who are alleging labor violations and human trafficking.
Lujan informed the U.S. District Court for the NMI that Clyde Lemons, the Lujan & Wolff LLP attorney who represented Cui, now works for the Office of the Guam Alternate Public Defender.
“Irreconcilable difference has arisen between Lujan & Wolff and Ms. Cui. [We are] simply unable to devote sufficient time on Ms. Cui’s matter,” he said.
Lujan said Cui did not object to the motion of his withdrawal.
Cui retained Lujan’s services on June 26, 2021.
According to court documents, last Aug. 26, U.S. District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona found Cui in contempt of court for failing to comply with a previous preservation order regarding the electronically stored information (ESI) that she created or used, including emails, and ESI data sent or received by others on her behalf.
Recently, the judge found Cui in contempt of court, again, this time for failing to provide backups of her ESI and the correct login information for her iCloud account.
To comply with the court order, Cui’s lawyer, Joey San Nicolas, said he has subpoenaed the makers of iPhone, Apple Inc. in California.
Currently, the $5.4-million default judgment against IPI in favor of the plaintiffs remain unsatisfied, and this is the reason why all ESI data held by the former IPI chair remain relevant to the proceedings.
The plaintiffs in this case are represented by attorneys Bruce Berline and Aaron Halegua and they include; Tianming Wang, Dong Han, Yongjun Meng, Liangcai Sun, Youli Wang, Qingchun Xu, and Duxin Yan.
