‘Dynasty owners in big financial trouble’

The chairman of a company that co-owns Tinian Dynasty Hotel and Casino has stated that they are in big financial trouble and cannot even hire a lawyer to represent them in the lawsuit filed by over 500 current and former foreign workers.

As this developed, Christopher Bishop has disclosed to the U.S. District Court for the NMI on Wednesday that he resigned as consultant and acting general manager for Tinian Dynasty effective April 30, 2016.

U.S. District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona yesterday ordered defendants Hong Kong Entertainment (Overseas) Investments Ltd. and Mega Stars Overseas Ltd., owners of Tinian Dynasty, to appear with counsel for a second status conference in the case on May 24, 2016 at 9am.

Manglona said in the event HKE and Mega Stars appear at the status conference without a legal counsel, then each defendants shall show cause or explain why sanctions should not be imposed, including the possibility of having their respective answers to the lawsuit stricken.

Manglona issued the order after no lawyer appeared for HKE and Mega Stars during a status conference on Wednesday afternoon.

Bishop appeared on behalf of HKE and Mega Stars at the status conference. He showed to the court a document authorizing him to represent as corporate representative for Mega Stars for the hearing.

The document is a one-page letter of authorization signed by Mr. Chun Chen Wai, chairman of Mega Stars. In that letter, Wai authorized Bishop to be the corporate representative to attend the status conference.

Wai also cited their company’s big financial problem as the reason why they are not able to hire a lawyer to represent them in this case.

According to the minutes of Wednesday’s hearing, attorney Samuel Mok, counsel for the workers, reviewed the letter of authorization and stated that Bishop was not an officer or a director of Mega Stars.

Bishop told the court that he was not aware if defendants will be hiring a lawyer. He also informed the court that the principal office for Mega Stars Overseas Ltd. is in Hong Kong.

Bishop advised the court that he already submitted his resignation papers and that he would not be accepting the service of documents for Mega Stars.

Mok told the court that attorney G. Anthony Long is the local registered agent for HKE, while attorney Sean Frink had resigned as the agent for Mega Stars.

Manglona then advised Bishop of the consequences if Mega Stars is not represented in this case.

In a written order issued yesterday, Manglona said corporations cannot appear pro se or without a lawyer in a civil action and must have legal representation.

Manglona said the defendants’ corporate designee, Bishop, is not an attorney and further admitted that he is neither an officer nor a director of HKE and Mega Stars.

The judge noted that Mega Stars does not currently have a registered agent in the CNMI even though a registered agent is required for all corporations pursuant to CNMI statute.

Manglona said plaintiffs will be prejudiced in their ability to pursue their claims if defendants continue to appear without counsel in this case.

In their lawsuit, Eric F. Dona and co-plaintiffs, through counsel Mok, alleged that the owners and management of Tinian Dynasty lied to them about their immigration legal status.

The plaintiffs alleged that the owners and management of Tinian Dynasty lied that they were legally authorized to work notwithstanding the denial of their CNMI-only Transitional Worker (CW-1) petitions.

The plaintiffs’ amended complaint adds a claim of constructive fraud against HKE and HKE majority shareholder, Mega Stars Overseas Limited.

Mok asked the court to preliminarily and permanently enjoin the defendants from terminating plaintiffs’ employment or removing their name from an administrative appeal.

The lawyer moved the court to issue a declaration that HKE’s statement that it was legally permissible for the plaintiffs to continue working even though the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services had denied their CW-1 petitions was false.

Mok requested the court to hold HKE and Mega Stars liable to pay the workers damages, court costs, and attorney’s fees.