Previous Story
Davis’ request for $10.2K in attorney’s fees, costs OK’d
U.S. District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona approved yesterday John H. Davis Jr.’s request for $10,237.85 in attorney’s fees and costs in connection with his lawsuit against the Commonwealth Election Commission.
Manglona awarded Davis attorney’s fees in the amount of $9,650 and taxes costs in the amount of $587.85 against the Election Commission, commission chair Frances M. Sablan, and commission executive director Robert A. Guerrero.
Assistant attorney general Charles Brasington, counsel for the defendants, did not oppose Davis’ request.
Brasington said they find Davis’ request for fees and costs reasonable and well documented.
Manglona directed the court’s clerk to close the case.
Davis, through counsel Jeanne H. Rayphand, said he incurred $9,650 in attorney’s fees and $587.85 for filing fee, postage/certified mail for service of summons and complaint, and photocopies of summons, complaint, and exhibits obtained for use in the case.
Rayphand claimed she spent 48.25 hours in representing Davis in the case.
Manglona recently issued a summary judgment that favored Davis in his lawsuit.
In that landmark decision, Manglona ruled that qualified voters who are not of Northern Marianas descents must have the opportunity to vote on the Article 12 initiative and any other initiative to amend Article 12.
Article 12 restricts the acquisition of permanent and long-term interests in real property to persons of Northern Marianas descent.
Davis, a registered voter in the CNMI and a non-NMD, sued CEC and its officials in his desire to vote on any initiative to amend Article 12.
