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IPI remains noncompliant in paying attorney’s fees
A lawyer involved in the lawsuit of seven construction workers who sued Imperial Pacific International (CNMI) LLC for alleged labor violations has filed a notice with the federal court stating that IPI remains noncompliant and has yet to satisfy the judgement for attorney’s fees.
Aaron Halegua told the District Court for the NMI that IPI has not complied with the federal court order to pay the plaintiffs’ attorneys’ fees in the amount of $93,834.25.
In addition, in his notice of non-compliance by IPI, Halegua stated that the plaintiffs did not receive any payment from the Saipan casino investor as of Oct. 27.
According to court documents, U.S. District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Ramona Manglona directed IPI on Aug. 25 to pay the plaintiffs’ attorneys’ fees in the amount of $93,834.25 by Sept. 24, 2020.
On Sept. 18, 2020, IPI attorney Michael Dotts asked for an extension, which Manglona granted. IPI was given a 30-day extension, with the full amount to be paid no later than Oct. 24.
The judge also approved the award of attorneys’ fees related to the plaintiffs’ filing of a discovery motion against Gold Mantis Construction Decoration (CNMI). The plaintiffs want Gold Mantis to pay $30,517.80 in attorneys’ fees.
The plaintiffs—Tianming Wang, Dong Han, Yongjun Meng, Liangcai Sun, Youli Wang, Qingchun Xu, and Duxin Yan—are suing IPI and its contractor and subcontractors MCC International, LLC, and Gold Mantis over alleged labor and other violations, including human trafficking allegations.
They have asked the federal court to issue an order awarding them $3.86 million in compensatory damages and $7.72 million in punitive damages.
The plaintiffs worked for the former contractor and subcontractor of IPI, MCC International and Gold Mantis.
