Teachers want to drop some claims vs SU, ex-president

Former teachers and staff of the defunct Saipan University—who sued the learning institution and its officers—yesterday asked the court to allow them to amend the lawsuit and drop certain causes of action against former SU president Jesus Taisague and the university itself.

The civil action, however, continues, as the employees want to maintain other causes of action in the civil suit.

The employees’ lawyer, Colin M. Thompson, yesterday asked the CNMI Superior Court’s permission to file an amended suit. Thompson attached a copy of the amended complaint in yesterday’s document filings.

The amended suit, however, maintained damage claims against SU, Taisague and SU owner Park Soon Kyung. The suit named other defendants, including Kim Yong Soon, Park Soon Young, and others whose identities have yet to be ascertained.

Teachers and employees of the Saipan University sued the learning institution and persons controlling the company—including owner Park Soon Kyung and president Jesus Taisague—for allegedly breaching their employment contracts and failing to compensate them.

Teachers and employees claiming for compensation and punitive damages include Franklin R. Perez, Christi Omengebar, William Primley, Anna Ludwick, Balbina Perez, Douglas Palacios and Troy M. Palacios.

Thompson said the amended complaint would drop the breach of contract claims against Taisague. Other causes of action against Taisague would remain in the amended complaint, including fraudulent misrepresentation, wrongful discharge and infliction of emotional distress.

The amended complaint would drop all causes of action against the university, except for breach of contract.

In the lawsuit, the teachers and employees claimed that SU offered them employment sometime in Sept. 2003. Thompson said his clients accepted the employment offer and began working for the university, setting aside efforts to seek or accept alternative employment.

In September and October last year, Thompson said the defendants executed written contracts employing the teachers and staff for one year. On Dec. 19, however, he said SU instructed his clients not to return for work until notified otherwise.

He accused SU’s management of deceiving the teachers and staff. The university allegedly breached the employees’ employment contracts by failing to provide continuous work and compensation. Consequently, he accused the defendants—except for the university—of inflicting emotional distress on the employees.

At least 88 Chinese students had separately complained of being defrauded by SU’s owner, collecting up to $5,000 each from the students who were recruited from China amid alleged several misrepresentations—including those relating to the nature of courses offered and the facilities at SU and the students’ ability to work while studying on Saipan.

Some students of SU, which used to be located at the Nauru Building in Susupe before it shut down its offices, also complained of living conditions at their dormitory.

Park had allegedly promised the students that he would open a hospital specializing in massage or a restaurant to employ them.

SU’s written contracts with the students guaranteed them monthly incomes ranging from $600 to $1,500 while attending the university.