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Another company is suing IPI
Another company issuing casino operator Imperial Pacific International (CNMI) LLC in federal court, this time for alleged non-payment of consulting services in an amount over $300,000 plus interest.
Meanwhile, U.S. District Court for the NMI Judge Ramona V. Manglona vacated Wednesday the hearing on IPI’s motion to stay or suspend execution of the court’s $6.9-million judgment in favor of IPI’s former contractor, Pacific Rim Land Development LLC, pending resolution of IPI’s appeal of that ruling. Manglona was supposed to hear the motion yesterday, Thursday. Manglona said she will not entertain oral argument and will issue a decision based on the parties’ briefs.
J.M. Aquino P.C., through counsel Mark A. Scoggins, sued IPI on Wednesday for breach of agreement and unjust enrichment. As of press time Wednesday, Saipan Tribune was still awaiting comments from IPI about the new lawsuit.
J.M. Aquino asked the U.S. District Court for the NMI to direct IPI to proceed with arbitration with the company and to hold IPI liable to pay damages in amount to be proven at trial, attorney’s fees, and court costs.
According to Scoggins in the complaint, J.M. Aquino entered into an agreement with IPI in June 2016 to provide super-structural inspection services for IPI’s casino project in Garapan. Scoggins said IPI breached the first agreement by failing to pay amounts owed in excess of $75,000.
In November 2016, Scoggins said, J.M. Aquino was hired to perform consulting services to IPI related to signals, roadways, and water quality at IPI’s resort construction. He said IPI has failed to pay amounts owed under the second agreement in an amount in excess of $75,000.
Scoggins said J.M. Aquino has demanded an arbitration, but IPI has ignored this demand.
In Pacific Rim’s lawsuit, it obtained last April 27 a judgment for breach of contract in excess of $6.8 million against IPI and may begin executing on the judgment last Tuesday, May 26.
IPI, through counsel Michael W. Dotts, said if Pacific Rim is allowed to do that, IPI will not be able to pay its employees or taxes. IPI currently has 1,066 employees, mostly working on the construction of its hotel.
