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Koblerville family has had no power, water for 18 mos. now
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Posted on Nov 15 2008
A family in Koblervile has filed a lawsuit in federal court against the Commonwealth Utilities Corp., its officials, and some employees for not reconnecting their power and water for 18 months now.
The family wants to know why they were disconnected in the first place, saying that CUC has not responded to their inquiries.
The complainants are Melvin Repeki Aldan, his wife Debra Kapileo Aldan, and their six children. They all reside in Koblerville.
The plaintiffs, through the O’Connor law firm, sued CUC, its executive director, Antonio Muña; and CUC personnel Grina Mizutani, Lee Lieto, and Verna Sablan, whose duties include customer service and reconnections.
The family also sued five unnamed CUC personnel who allegedly authorized the initial disconnection of their utility services.
The complainants sued the defendants for breach of contract and violation of the CNMI Constitution.
The family asked the U.S. District Court for the NMI to order the defendants to pay them damages, court costs, and attorney’s fees. They also asked the court to compel CUC to reconnect their electrical and water utility services.
Saipan Tribune contacted CUC yesterday, but no one was available to comment.
In the lawsuit filed Thursday, the family said they moved into their current residence in Koblervile on Nov. 16, 2006. Since that time until April 2007, the plaintiffs received power and water services. Melvin Aldan claims that he paid CUC for services each month from November 2006 through April 2007.
The complaint states that in May 1007, for unknown reasons, the family’s electrical meter was removed by CUC. Their electric and water utility services were cut off.
“From May 2007 to the present, plaintiffs have repeatedly requested CUC and its personnel, including Muna, Mizutani, Lieto, and Sablan, and to reconnect their power and water, and or to conduct an administrative hearing or informal meeting regarding the reasons for their disconnection, and what they need to do to get reconnected,” the complaint said.
The O’Connor law firm said the defendants “have taken no action in response to plaintiffs’ entreaties, or responded to them in any other way.”
