Senator sues ma’s estate, siblings

Sen. Paul A. Manglona (Ind-Rota) is suing his own mother’s estate and siblings over a disputed piece of land in Upper Capital Hill, Saipan.

Manglona, through counsel Jennifer Dockter, is suing Priscilla M. Torres, Thomas A. Manglona, and the estate of Bernadita A. Manglona for quiet title.

Paul Manglona is also suing his siblings Priscilla M. Torres and Thomas Manglona in their personal capacities for slander of title.

The senator also included as co-defendants unknown persons claiming any legal or equitable right, title, estate, lien, or interest in the 4,181-square-meter property.

As of yesterday, Saipan Tribune was still trying to obtain comments from Torres and Thomas Manglona.

The senator wants the Superior Court to declare him the fee simple owner of the property and that neither the estate of Bernadita Manglona, Torres, nor Thomas Manglona have any legal rights or claims to it.

Paul Manglona is also asking for special damages. Because of Torres and Thomas Manglona’s alleged illegal publication and filing of a fake “May 5 notice,” he was forced to hire an attorney and file a lawsuit.

The complaint states that, by virtue of a deed of gift on July 11, 1985, Paul Manglona is the fee simple owner of the lot. He claims that Bernadita Manglona, Torres, and Thomas Manglona knew since 1985 of the transfer of property to Paul Manglona.

According to Dockter in the complaint, Paul Manglona remains the sole and rightful fee simple owner of the lot.

Dockter said that, on Aug. 4, 2016, the estate of Bernadita A. Manglona, through co-administrators Torres and Thomas Manglona, caused a letter to be filed at the Commonwealth Recorder’s Office.

In the letter, Dockter said, the estate of Bernadita A. Manglona, through Torres and Thomas Manglona, claimed to be the owner of the disputed lot.

Dockter said that, on April 27, 2017, Paul Manglona executed an agreement to lease the property for a term of 55 years to American CM Real Estate Development.

On May 4, 2017, American CM Real Estate Development entered into an assignment of lease with a third party and recorded the document at the Commonwealth Recorder’s Office.

Dockter said the very next day, May 5, Torres and Thomas Manglona caused a “notice fee title ownership” document to be filed and recorded at the Commonwealth Recorder’s Office. Dockter said Torres and Thomas Manglona claimed to be the fee simple owners of the disputed property.

Torres and Thomas Manglona claimed ownership pursuant to the deed of gift executed by Prudencio T. Manglona and filed in the Commonwealth Recorder’s Office on Saipan and on Rota.

Dockter said the May 5 notice and the estate letter are defects on the title report of the disputed property and prevents Paul Manglona from fulfilling the terms to which he is bound under the agreement to lease.