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Ex-IPI contractor withdraws motion for default judgment
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Posted on Apr 09 2020
A former construction contractor for Imperial Pacific International (CNMI) LLC has agreed to withdraw its motion for entry of default against IPI in connection with its defamation lawsuit.
U.S.A. Fanter Corp. Ltd. and IPI, through their counsel, have agreed to withdraw the motion for entry of default to allow IPI to respond to the lawsuit by April 22.
Samuel I. Mok is counsel for U.S.A. Fanter. Attorney Cong Nie of the O’Connor Berman Horey & Banes law firm informed the U.S. District Court for the NMI yesterday that they will serve as counsel for IPI in this lawsuit.
Last Tuesday, U.S.A. Fanter filed the motion for entry of default against IPI for allegedly failing to respond to its defamation lawsuit.
In that motion, Mok said the lawsuit was filed last Feb. 24 and that IPI was personally served through its registered agent with the summons and complaint last March 11.
U.S.A. Fanter is suing IPI for issuing statements published in two newspapers that allegedly contained libelous statements. The plaintiff asked the court to hold IPI liable to pay unspecified damages. The company also asked the court to require IPI to make a public retraction of the false and defamatory statements.
IPI stated that U.S.A. Fanter purportedly lied about the actual construction work performed, issued false reports, forged project quantity numbers, forged a payment, fabricated units of material used, fabricated prices, and double-billed for work performed.
Mok said in the complaint that IPI’s statements were false and defamatory and that U.S.A. Fanter’s business reputation was adversely affected as a result.
U.S.A. Fanter has filed a separate lawsuit in federal court against IPI for allegedly refusing to pay $2.08 million for construction work related to the VIP wing and exterior work on IPI’s hotel-casino that’s being built in Garapan.
U.S.A. Fanter also asked the court to attach a mechanic’s lien to IPI’s interests in the real property on the project. A mechanic’s lien refers to a security interest in the title to property for the benefit of those who have supplied labor or materials that improve the property.
