Flashback – Sept. 2003-Sept. 2005

Sept. 16, 2003

‘Use of media in litigation is counterproductive’

In its decision reducing the expenses being asked by lawyers of the class action suit filed against garment firms, the U.S. District Court affirmed that the use of the media as part of litigation efforts is counterproductive and its rationale unacceptable. Chief Judge Alex R. Munson said it is the courts that determine the outcome of a case, and the court’s decision is based on all the facts-not on what kind of public opinion can be generated through the media. In asking for reimbursement for media expenses, lawyers for the plaintiffs had argued that “media strategies” have become commonplace in present-day, high profile litigations, and that it has become so common that seminars are offered on the subject of using the media as part of the litigation efforts.

Senate to act on 3 ‘non-controversial’ resolutions

Sen. Pete P. Reyes, who was recently voted president by the new Senate majority, is planning to dispose of three “non-controversial” House Joint Resolutions that, he said, have been awaiting Senate action for almost a year now. Reyes, who moved today’s scheduled session to Wednesday, said adopting the resolutions would be beneficial to the Commonwealth. “I don’t see anything controversial in this except that it’s all a plus for the CNMI. Why it was never calendared is something that I’m looking at now, to try and make sense of this,” said Reyes.

Sept. 16, 2004

Law governing alien workers survives legal challenge

The U.S. Court of Appeals junked the appeal of a Filipino worker who had challenged the constitutionality of the Nonresident Workers Act based on arguments asserting equal protection and due process rights as guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution’s Fourteenth Amendment. CNMI Assistant Attorney General James Livingstone said the appellate court effectively upheld the constitutionality of the NWA as a whole, after it withstood legal challenge. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit added, though, that it is taking no position whether individual sections of the NWA would satisfy a more focused legal challenge anchored on equal protection grounds.

10 local firms to join LA investment confab

At least 10 private companies in the CNMI would send representatives to the 2004 Business Opportunities Conference in Los Angeles next week, the Governor’s Office disclosed yesterday. Galvin DeLeon Guerrero, the governor’s special assistant for special projects, said the 10 companies represent diverse industries on the islands. The conference, which is being organized by the U.S. Department of the Interior, will be held at the Marriott Hotel in downtown Los Angeles on Sept. 23 to 24. Guerrero earlier said the conference would provide local companies the opportunity to partner with U.S.-based firms for possible investments and projects in the Commonwealth.

Sept. 16, 2005

CPA net income rises 15 percent

The Commonwealth airports’ net income grew by 15 percent in the first 10 months of fiscal year 2005 due mainly to employee compensation cuts. The Commonwealth Ports Authority’s latest financial report showed that the airport division had a total net income of $2.63 million for the period between October 2004 and July 2005. This represents a 15 percent increase from the Saipan, Tinian, and Rota airports’ combined net income of $2.28 million for the same period last year. Of the airport division’s net income, $1.23 million will be used to pay debts incurred for airport improvement projects, while the remaining $1.4 million is being reserved to maintain bond liquidity.

New issue of humanities journal now out

The first issue of the Micronesian Journal of the Humanities and Social Sciences for 2005 has just been published. The new edition covers topics such as the role of the Pampangos in the Mariana Mission, an evaluation of the nature of Guam’s history textbooks, a discussion on the role of youth theatre in the revitalization of Marshallese culture, a discussion of traditional and 19th century communication patterns in the Marshall Islands, and much more. The journal also features the section “Micronesian Roundup,” where Humanities Institutions in Micronesia are given the opportunity to summarize their activities during the preceding year.