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Hillbroom asked to pay $2.5K for failing to show up for conference
Guam lawyer David J. Lujan and Vietnam-based lawyer Barry J. Israel are claiming to have incurred a total of $2,576.89 in costs to appear at a settlement conference in federal court in which their former client, Junior Larry Hillbroom, failed to show up.
Attorney Victorino DLG. Torres, counsel for Lujan and Israel, submitted their costs on Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the NMI pursuant to an order issued by Magistrate Judge Heather L. Kennedy.
According to Torres, Lujan spent a total of $777.41 for airfare, hotel, car rental, gas, parking, and incidentals. Israel spent a total of $1,799.48 for airfare, hotel, and car rental, he said.
Kennedy sanctioned Hillbroom for failing to attend the settlement conference last Sept. 14 in connection with his lawsuit against Lujan and Israel.
Kennedy found that there were no sufficient reasons provided for Hillbroom’s failure to appear.
Kennedy ordered Hillbroom to pay reasonable costs to the two lawyers, but denied the request to hold him liable to pay for their attorney’s fees.
Attorney Mark Hanson, counsel for Hillbroom, explained that he was able to speak with Hillbroom and that the latter twice attempted to travel to Saipan but had to return back to Palau due to flight problems.
Hillbroom is suing Lujan and Israel for allegedly conspiring with a former trustee to inflate the attorney’s contingency fee when late business tycoon Larry Hillblom’s fortune was still undergoing probate proceedings in Superior Court.
