Flashback – Oct. 2008-Oct. 2006

October 30, 2008

PSS, CUC agree that PSS owes $1.3 million
After reconciling their records, the Public School System now concedes that it owes the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. more than $1.3 million. The two entities reconciled their records after CUC executive director Antonio Muña said PSS owed the utility company $1.8 million in overdue debt. PSS officials had denied they owed any money until the Saipan Tribune, via the Open Government Act, looked at billing records and statements and discovered they owed the money. Muña had said the money from PSS, along with $1.6 million due from the CNMI government, would help pay for the $6-million Aggreko generators, including the $504,000 that was due earlier this month.

Jurors deliberate in medical malpractice complaint
Six jurors in the Superior Court started deliberations yesterday on a medical malpractice lawsuit filed by a police officer and his wife against the Commonwealth Health Center over a failed vasectomy surgery. The deliberation began shortly after the plaintiff and the defense completed the closing arguments in the lawsuit filed by Police Officer Eric David and his wife, Tanya. A motions hearing was set yesterday afternoon before Associate Judge Kenneth Govendo. Attorney George Hasselback is counsel for the David couple. Assistant Attorney General David Lochabay is representing CHC and the CNMI government. The couple, together with their child, lodged in 2004 the lawsuit against Dr. John Yarofalir, who allegedly performed the vasectomy surgery on the officer sometime in 2004.

October 30, 2004

Labor vows to pursue probe vs employer
An employer who was found operating without a business permit and permanently barred from hiring alien workers is not out of the woods yet. The Department of Labor Hearing Office issued an order yesterday closing a compliance agency case against Green Star Co. Ltd.; the hearing office, however, did not preclude the filing of other cases against the company. “This agency case is hereby closed, without prejudice to the department’s right to pursue other remedies based on further investigation,” hearing officer Jerry Cody said in an Oct. 29 administrative order. When a case is dismissed without prejudice, the complainant may be allowed to bring a new suit on the same claim. The agency case was heard last Tuesday.

Senate OKs homestead permit protection bill
The Senate has passed a bill prohibiting the government from revoking homestead permits after three years if the area lacks basic infrastructure such as water, power, and sewerage systems. House Bill 14-206 amends the existing law, which gives homesteaders only three years to develop and reside in the lot “without any consideration of the availability of electrical power, water or sewer services.” If the homesteader fails to build a home within the required period, the government can take back the lot. The bill, authored by Rep. Janet Maratita, provides that the Marianas Public Lands Authority may revoke a permit if the homesteader has not fulfilled the requirements after three years.

October 30, 2006

Police probe man’s death in Koblerville
Police are investigating the death of a 46-year-old man who was found early Friday morning lying on the floor inside his house in Koblerville, a few hours after he had an argument with his girlfriend. The victim, a Marshallese, was transported by medics to the Commonwealth Health Center. A doctor pronounced him dead at 4:34am, according to the Department of Public Safety yesterday. DPS acting spokesman Sgt. Thomas A. Blas Jr. said investigators are looking at suicide by hanging, but have not confirmed this as of yesterday. “Any other aspects of the case has not been ruled out,” Blas said.

Tydingco-Gatewood named chief judge of Guam’s district court
History was made in Guam yesterday morning when Frances Tydingco-Gatewood became the first Chamorro woman to be named Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court of Guam. Tydingco-Gatewood was sworn into office by the Hon. Mary M. Schroeder, Chief Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, before a capacity crowd at the Courthouse in Anigua, Guam. Tydingco-Gatewood joins an elite group that includes the CNMI’s first Chamorro female judge, Virginia Sablan Onerheim and Republic of Belau’s first Palaun female justice, Kate Salii.