Another setback in Angello’s suit

The U.S. District Court ordered Friday the exclusion of any evidence that former Northern Marianas College professor Jack Angello could gather from the college through an Open Government Act request.

Designated Judge David A. Wiseman said that Angello’s OGA request to the NMC for the production of documents came about following the court’s denial of the professor’s untimely request to the court for some of those documents.

“This court need not insert into that process [OGA request] or any resultant legal action; that is the province of the Commonwealth Superior Court,” Wiseman said.

However, he added that Angello could not use the documents obtained through an OGA request in connection with the professor’s lawsuit against NMC and some officials, particularly those that were the subject of his earlier request to the court, which was denied.

Angello filed his amended complaint before the federal court about two years ago. The suit stemmed from his termination from NMC sometime in 2002, during the time of former college president Kenneth Wright.

The suit named NMC, Wright and former NMC vice president Barbara Moir as defendants. Angello sued Wright and Moir both in their official and individual capacities.

Angello said Moir was the main source of input in his termination of from the college. He said he had a pending grievance and Equal Employment Opportunity complaint against Moir. He accused Moir of displaying discriminatory behavior toward men for several years.

He also said his termination and those of other employees were discriminatory as to their ages and sex. Angello said he was terminated with six other males who were all near the age of 50 and above and making approximately $50,000 annually.

Angello also cited the manner in which he was forced to vacate his office allegedly within four hours after receiving his termination notice. He said Wright had the locks of his offices and working areas at the college changed, which humiliated him.

The professor explained that the elimination of his post as Director of Vocational and Technical Education was arbitrary. The NMC later ruled that the position was valid, not too long when Wright described it as unnecessary, a finding that warranted Angello’s termination.

Citing his doctorate degree, Angello said the NMC denied him transfer to other NMC positions. He has served not only as teacher but also as counselor.