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SC puts a period to a 12-year case
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Posted on Apr 28 1999
In denying the appeal made by Leocadio C. Mafnas, the CNMI Supreme Court emphasized the principles of finality of court decisions following a legal battle of 12 years.
Mafnas contested the judgment made by the Ninth Circuit in 1994 saying that it infringed upon the judicial function of the CNMI Supreme Court. He then filed a motion in the trial court for relief from judgment pursuant to Rule 60 (b) of the Rules of Civil Procedure.
After it was denied, he appealed to the Supreme Court.
According to the decision penned by justices Miguel S. Demapan, John A. Manglona and Virginia S. Onerheim, to affirm his earlier motion would only frustrate the purposes of finality.
The law said civil courts have been established to secure the peace and repose of society through the settlement of matters capable of judicial determination.
In affirming the decision made by the trial court denying the Rule 60 (b) motion, the Supreme Court pointed out that principles of finality protect both courts and parties from the burdens of repeated arguments.
His case against Marian Aldan-Pierce over a land transaction dated back in 1986 and involved a long and complicated factual and procedural background. (S. Amor)
