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Lawyers told to explain why they should not be suspended
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Posted on May 22 2012
By Ferdie de la Torre
Reporter
Reporter
U.S. District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona ordered attorneys Antonio M. Atalig and Reynaldo O. Yana yesterday to explain why they should not be suspended from practicing law in the district court.
Manglona said she has received from the Superior Court a copy of associate judge David A. Wiseman’s order that indefinitely suspends Atalig and Yana from the practice of law in the Commonwealth.
Manglona gave Atalig and Yana 30 days to inform her of any claim that the imposition of an identical sanction in the district court would be unwarranted.
“Failure to respond may be deemed acquiescence to the imposition of reciprocal discipline,” the judge said in a one-page order.
Wiseman recently ordered the suspension of Atalig and Yana from practicing law in the CNMI for their refusal to return $1.1 million in attorneys’ fees that the two received from the Angel Malite estate.
Wiseman said the suspension is indefinite until Atalig and Yana have complied with some conditions.
“The misconduct of [Atalig and Yana] detailed in this order reflects adversely on an attorney’s honesty, trustworthiness and fitness as a lawyer,” Wiseman had said.
