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Judge dismisses Sablan, JG Sablan Rock lawsuit vs DPL
The federal court on Wednesday dismissed businessman John T. Sablan’s and his JG Sablan Rock Quarry Inc.’s lawsuit against the Department of Public Lands over a mining permit issue.
U.S. District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona dismissed with prejudice the lawsuit following the parties’ request after they reached a settlement deal.
Dismissed with prejudice means the case cannot be re-opened again.
Manglona said the court has reviewed the settlement agreement and shall retain jurisdiction to enforce that deal.
Attorney Michael W. Dotts, as counsel for Sablan and JG Sablan Rock Quarry Inc., and assistant attorney general Peter B. Prestley, as counsel for defendant DPL, recently filed in court a stipulated dismissal.
Dotts and Prestley informed the court that having reached a settlement, they agree to the dismissal of the lawsuit, with all parties to bear their own fees and costs.
The lawyers asked the court to retain jurisdiction to enforce their settlement agreement. They submitted their settlement deal to the court for review.
Sablan and JG Sablan Rock Quarry reportedly reached a $4.8-million settlement with the CNMI government in connection with the company’s legal battle with DPL that began in 2006 when DPL terminated JG Sablan’s mining permit.
At a settlement hearing last June 24, Dotts disclosed that Sablan has agreed to pay $4,806,867 to the CNMI government and the latter will issue a mining permit for Pagan Island.
The length of the permit will be for 20 years, with a $100,000 permit fee payable in 120 days from its execution.
