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Clothing firm owner sues Barcinas
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Posted on Oct 26 2011
Hopwood Junior High School principal Jonas Barcinas is being sued by a clothing company for alleged defamation.
Robert Bernard C. Travilla, owner of the Salbahe brand, seeks injunctive relief that would prohibit Barcinas from saying anything against the company and its owner.
The company alleges in the lawsuit it filed on Sept. 26 that during an orientation at the school on Sept. 2, Barcinas announced that Salbahe’s clothing apparel line will be banned from the campus due to the company owner’s alleged gang-related criminal activities.
Represented by attorney Brien Sers Nicolas, the company said that Barcinas’ statements are false and are malicious public statements against Salbahe. “[Barcinas] knew or should have known that he had no right or privilege to be making such statements against the plaintiff,” states the court papers filed by the complainant.
According to court papers, Barcinas alleged that Travilla is now being investigated by police. Travilla stated that the alleged defamatory statements have harmed his reputation and his business in and outside the Commonwealth.
Travilla seeks unspecified punitive damages plus court costs, including attorney’s fees.
The company owner also wants a permanent injunction against Barcinas to restrain him from any further comments about Travilla and his business practices.
Barcinas confirmed the case filed against him and said that the matter is now being handled by assistance attorney general David Lochabay of the Attorney General’s Office.
He denied making any defamatory statements against Travilla and his company and told Saipan Tribune that he was just discussing with the parents, staff, and students the school’s uniform policy.
He revealed that the event took place at the school’s cafeteria with more than 500 attendees. Barcinas refused to comment further.
This is the second case filed against Barcinas, with the other one pending in court. The principal was earlier sued for sexual harassment by a school security aide.
