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Yamamoto, parties in suit over M/V Luta still negotiating
Investor Takahisa Yamamoto and the parties in his lawsuit against the controversial cargo ship M/V Luta and its owners are still negotiating to settle their dispute.
Yamamoto, through his counsel George Lloyd Hasselback, and M/V Luta and its owner Luta Mermaid LLC, through their counsel William M. Fitzgerald, informed the U.S. District Court for the NMI yesterday about their ongoing settlement talks.
Luta Mermaid LLC’s members are Abelina T. Mendiola, Deron T. Mendiola, and Fidel S. Mendiola III.
Hasselback and Fitzgerald said because of their settlement negotiation continues they have agreed to extend the hearing date in the case.
The hearing is supposed to be this Thursday, but the parties have agreed to continue it to April 26 at 9:30am.
Yamamoto is suing Lt. Gov. Victor B. Hocog, Luta Mermaid, and the Mendiolas for allegedly refusing to pay back the $3.4 million that he put up for the vessel. The vessel was seized shortly after the U.S. Marshal Service seized the ship on Oct. 25, 2016. National Maritime Services was then appointed as substitute custodian of the vessel.
On Feb. 22, 2017, U.S. District Court for the NMI designated judge David O. Carter ordered the immediate release of Luta to its owner, Luta Mermaid LLC, after Yamamoto reached the settlement agreement with the ship’s former custodian, NMS.
NMS sued Yamamoto for failing to pay custodian fees.
Following the settlement, Carter discharged the court’s previous order to show cause against Yamamoto and relieved NMS of its duties as substitute custodian for M/V Luta.
Carter found the settlement deal acceptable.
