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Baseball player is found in contempt
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Posted on Mar 24 2009
The federal court has found Japanese professional baseball player Kouichi Taniguchi in contempt of court for not appearing at hearings in connection with his lawsuit against Marianas Resort and Spa.
U.S. District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Alex R. Munson ordered Taniguchi to pay $100 to the Clerk of Court everyday until he appears in court or complies with the court’s order to pay costs.
Munson stated in his order that on Jan. 15, 2009, the court ordered Taniguchi to pay costs.
The judge allowed that the judgment could be paid to either defense counsel Richard W. Pierce or deposited with the court’s registry pending appeal.
Taniguchi failed to comply.
On Feb. 17, 2009, Munson ordered Taniguchi to personally appear at the Feb. 27, 2009, hearing for an order to show cause why he should not be held in contempt.
The judge later continued the hearing to last Friday, March 20. Taniguchi, however, still failed to appear in court. His lawyer, Douglas F. Cushnie also did not show up.
Munson said his order to pay costs has not been complied with.
“Accordingly, the court hereby finds plaintiff in contempt of court,” he said.
Taniguchi filed the lawsuit in February 2008. He alleged he suffered injuries when the wooden deck he was standing on at Marianas Resort and Spa in Marpi collapsed.
Cushnie stated in the complaint that his client fell several feet to the ground when the deck overlooking the pools and the ocean collapsed under him on Nov. 6, 2006.
Taniguchi asked the court to order Kan Pacific Saipan Ltd., owner of Marianas Resort and Spa, to pay him damages.
Taniguchi reportedly played in Japan for the Yomiuri (Tokyo) Giants and in the U.S. for the New York Mets.
