Two crystal dragons adorning the lobby of Saipan resort Imperial Palace • Saipan are among items ordered to be seized following an order from the District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands.
According to a report by Marianas Variety, Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona last week granted a request and application of former IPI employee Joshua Gray for a writ of execution on Imperial Pacific International LLC’s properties.
Gray, who previously worked as IPI’s Director of Operations, sued the company for discrimination and unlawful termination and was in May this year awarded a judgement of almost US$5.7 million.
With that judgement still unsatisfied, the court last week ordered the seizure by the US Marshals Service of the crystal dragons as well as IPI’s vehicles, liquor, computer hardware, furniture and any remaining casino-related and security equipment.
IPI has 14 days to submit in writing any potential exemptions to the seizure.
Gray’s lawyer, Aaron Halegua, stated, “The total resale value of these assets will likely not exceed the value of plaintiff’s judgment … if the funds from the sale are sufficient to pay the Judgment, then the further sale of IPI’s assets may be stopped,” Halegua said.
“The order should also require IPI to store each seized item in its current location, wherever it is found. However, most items that will be seized are believed to be either inside the IPI casino, at its storage facilities, or in an underground parking lot.”
IPI, which has already seen much of its casino equipment auctioned off, only recently settled a US$2.3 million legal dispute with former contractor USA Fanter Corporation Ltd.
The company is now awaiting a rescheduled revocation hearing in regard to its suspended casino license, with IPI fighting to stop the Commonwealth Casino Commission from pulling its license permanently over unpaid annual fees.
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