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Sablan, parties directed to prepare for OGA dialogue
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Posted on May 12 2009
Rep. Tina Sablan and the other parties connected to her Open Government Act lawsuit were ordered to appear in court tomorrow, Thursday, to discuss the matter.
Superior Court Associate Judge David A. Wiseman told Sablan and the lawyer for Gov. Benigno F. Fitial and Finance Secretary Eloy Inos to be prepared to discuss the enumerated items listed in the “privilege log” and to what extent the OGA restricts the release of those documents.
At the April 9, 2009, hearing on Sablan’s request for the release of certain documents, assistant attorney general Brad Huesman, the lawyer for Fitial and Inos, objected to producing three documents.
The three documents are the letter engaging the services of a Washington D.C. law firm for the federalization lawsuit, billing documents and statements sent to the CNMI relating to the 903 litigation (federalization lawsuit), and payments made by the CNMI to attorneys representing the 903 litigation.
On April 14, Wiseman ordered Fitial and Inos to produce within seven days all of Sablan’s requested documents, except the three that Huesman refused to hand over.
The judge also ordered Fitial and Inos to file a privilege log with the court within 10 days. Huesman subsequently filed the privilege log.
Sablan sued Fitial and Inos to compel the administration to disclose where it is getting the money to fund the lawsuit against federalization.
