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Resident files lawsuit vs MPLA, ex-officials
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Posted on Feb 23 2006
Even on the last day of the Marianas Public Lands Authority’s existence, a local resident still managed to sue the agency for allegedly denying access to pertinent information requested through the Open Government Act.
Juan Boki Babauta, in a lawsuit filed in Superior Court Wednesday—the day the MPLA was dissolved through legislation—said the MPLA and its board of directors failed to provide him within 10 days his requested records.
Likewise, he said that he was not even advised on the status of his request.
Babauta said he had requested on Feb. 8, 2006 documents relating to attorney and law-firm procurement and billings, board member travel expenditures, minutes of meetings, audits, employment of MPLA board members’ relatives, MPLA payroll, and cash payment received by board members and their legal counsel.
His lawyer, Sean Frink, said the CNMI Open Government Meetings and Records Act required the MPLA and its officials to provide the requested documents within 10 days.
He said his client is “a person [of NMI descent] who is greatly troubled by the apparent way the CNMI’s public lands are presently being managed and controlled.”
“Due to the MPLA’s and the board’s apparent disdain for their public records obligations, Mr. Babauta is left with no option other than file this lawsuit and request an expedited hearing…,” said Frink.
He said during the hearing, the concerned agency and its officials will be forced to immediately produce the public records.
Babauta seeks relief for attorneys fees and costs and imposition of penalties against public officials found violating the law.
