'UNIVÇPS'TY Qp f-[p»^WAÍf ÜRRAP'·’ Micronesia’s Leading Newspaper Since 1972 Voi; 22 No. 3 2 ................... Saipan, ¡VIP 96950 ■ ■■1993 Maiianas Variety W ednesday ■ April 2 8 , 1993 i Serving CNMI for 20 Years 2 5 UMDA sues Mitchell UNITED Micronesia Devel­ The suit did not specify the such legal employment, he agreed Mitchell resigned as UMDA’s opment Association has filed information Mitchell disclosed to perform legal services for lawyer before representing an­ a complaint against its former but source said he divulged UMDA in a competent and ethical other person last year who sued lawyer, Theodore Mitchell, for UMDA’s business transactions fashion, the suit said. Hillblom for alleged violation of allegedly disclosing confidential in Palau, including those involv­ On March 1,1990, the retainer Article 12. information about UMDA’s busi­ ing land and cable television, agreement was amended so UMDA said Mitchell aban­ ness deals in Palau. during proceedings in the CNMI Mitchell could also appear as coun­ doned the corporation by unilat­ UMDA, in a complaint filed with the Superior Court of an Article 12 sel for UMDA in a land case in erally withdrawing as UMDA’s Supreme Court of Palau on April 12, is case against Larry Hillblom, a Palau. lawyer in the Palau case, “with­ asking for at least $2 million in puni­ major shareholder of UMDA. The suit said Mitchell owed to out first obtaining consent of the tive damages. Mitchell is also accused in the UMDA“the duty of the mostcon- court or UMDA’s, and without According to the suit, Mitchell suit of “publicly criticizing, in­ scientious fidelity and loyalty, the taking {Jroper steps to assure that breached his duty to be loyal to sulting and disparaging” UMDA, most absolute good faith, and ab­ UMDA’s interest in the litigation UMDA “by intentionally and pub­ the corporation’s officers, direc­ solute candor, openness and hon­ was adequately protected.” licly disclosing confidential and tors and employees. esty.” “As adirectresultof defendant privileged communications” be­ UMDA first hired Mitchell on “...Mitchell had the duty to act Mitchell’s breaches of fiduciary tween the corporation and April 1, 1986, according to the at all times in the best interest of duty, plaintiff UMDA has been Mitchell. suit. He was retained as general plaintiff UMDA, to protect and damaged in an amount substan­ He also disclosed the substance counsel, to provide its officers advance plaintiff UMDA’s inter­ tially in excess of $2 million,” of information he obtained in his and employees advice and legal est above his own, and not to UMDA said. capacity as attorney for UMDA, representation in its daily affairs, perform any act which wouldcon- The suit mentioned 10 other according to the suit filed by and to represent UMDA in litiga­ flict with his duties of loyalty and defendants who were identi­ Guam-based lawyer R. Randall tion with other parties. confidentiality to UMDA,” the fied only as Does 1 through At the time Mitchell accepted suit said. 10. (GLD) Theodore Mitchell Cunliffe. Court sets June 14 trial for Kapileo A MAN accused of shooting his mother to death last December in Saipan will stand jury trial on June 14. SuperiorCourt Judge Edward Manibusansettbe trial date yesterday for David Desebel Kapileo, 24. Kapileo has been in jail since the Dec. 20 pre-dawn shooting, for failure to post the $1 million bail set by Presiding Judge Alex Castro. Based on a police report, Kapileo’smother JoannaDesebel,42, was shot shortly after knocking on the door of her scat’s bedroom. Kapileo was allegedly drunk at.that time. Kapileo allegedly took a .22-caliber unlicensed pistol and fired a shot at the door. The mother was hit on the head and was declared dead on arrival at the Commonwealth Health Center. Meanwhile, the government filed a charge of possession of crystal methamphetamine or ice against Miguel B. Evangelista of Tinian. Assistant Attorney General Steven Pixley filed the criminal com­ plaint on April 12, two days after Evangelista was allegedly caught in possession of the controlled substance. EMPLOYEES of the Division of Environmental Quality pick trash along Chalan Mons. Guerrero during island- Possession of such controlled substance carries maximum penalty wide clean-up drive Friday. of one year imprisonment and/or fine not exceeding $1,000. (GLD) I W om en lobby fo r 4-year lim it SOME 66 women who called them­ resented by Camacho-Romisher) ment of Public Law 6-39. people of their right to meaningful regulations, in an influx of alien selves a “group of mothers” have and Felicidad Ogumoro-Ulodong. Public Law 6-39 repealed the employment and leaves an impres­ worker dependents in the CNMI. urged Legislature to maintain the Attached to the letter were peti­ four-year limitation provision of sion that the need for alien workers “There are countless front busi­ four-year limitation chi the stay of tions signed by other women. PL 5-32, but failed to lift Section is continuous and indefinite, they nesses whose only main purpose is non-resident workers intheCNMI. They asked Demapan and the 4322 (j) of 3 CMC, which autho­ said. to bring family members into the “The four-year clause will send a senators to defeat House Bill 8-159 rizes Immigration to exclude alien “There is that stereotype in the CNML It is high time we adopt a dear message to all alien workers introduced by Rep. Pedro R. DL. workers who seek entry after four business community that die locals close door policy and allow genu­ that their employment status in the Guerrero, which seeks toexplicitly consecutive years. are lazy and unreliable. What is ine businesses to remain and let the CNMIisnotaright,butaprivilege. repeal the four-year limitation The women said the defeat of the there to step them from continu­ indigenous people be a part of eco­ It would likewise delete any no­ which was not properly addressed bill would be consistent with the ously renewing their alien employ­ nomic development of the islands,” tions of indefinite, permanent em­ by a repealer law enacted by the original intentof temporary impor­ ees indefinitely? By lifting the four the women said. ployment,” the women said in a Sixth Legislature. tation of non-resident workers as it year limit, we would in a sense be Last Friday, the Senate passed letter to Senate President Juan S. House Bill 8-159 was designed would force businesses to hire and closing the door to the next indig­ House Bill 8-140 which includes a Demapaa to clear up confusion on whether train resident workers as intended enous generation, our children,” provision that wouldretainthefour- The letter was signed by Ursula the four-ye; * 'imit, which was im­ in the Non-resident Workers Act. the women said. year limit for workers except con­ Lifoifoi-Aldan, Lydia Camacho- posed through Public Law 5-32, On the other hand passage of HB They also noted the laxity in the struction workers with unfinished Romisher, Bemadita Reyes (rep­ was still in effect after the enáct- 8-159 deprives the indigenous enforcement of business licensing projects. (RHA) I-MACANAS VARIETY NEWS AND VIEWS-WEDNESDAY-APRIL 28,1993 WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28 ,1993 -MARIANAS VARIETY NEWS AND VIEWS-3 Health care subsidy gains support Joint resolution to assure A SURVEY conducted’two for health care costs; 12.8 per­ strictly enforce collection of bills. Majority of the respondents dents believe that the quality of months ago by the Saipan Cham­ cent were against any subsidy; About 18.4 percent of the re­ also agreed that the health care health care available in Saipan is local matching for US funds ber of Commerce shows wide 7.7 percent favored island-wide spondents suggested government issue should be a priority con­ the most important, followed by: support for government subsidy subsidies for everyone; and the subsidy to CHC or allocating rev­ cern for the Guerrero administra­ capacity of medical facilities REPRESENTATIVE Jesus P. Joint Resolution 8-19 for intro­ ington, D.C. of the agreement,” Mafnas said. on health care for low-income remaining respondents gave vari­ enues from so-called sin taxes. tion. and access to care; CHC’s fi­ Mafnas has prepared a joint reso­ duction the next session of the During ihat hearing, the CNMI The measure also contains a people. ous responses. About 7.9 percent suggested in­ The survey participants were nancial status and increasing lution as the Legislature’s com­ House of Representatives, cogni­ government is expected to stress provision that indicates a com­ Based on the survey findings The question asked was, to creasing hospital rates while the mostly against denying hospital hospital fees; off-island refer* mitment to match the"$120 mil­ zant. the benefits of the dollar for dollar mitment for the Legislature to released Thursday, 28.2 percent what extent, if at all, do you think other respondents gave various admission to persons who have rals; mandatory health insur­ lion that will be provided by the Virgin Islands Delegate Ron De matching provision of the agree­ work closely with the executive of the more than 40 people who government should subsidize responses. no medical insurance. ance for all employees; dis­ federal governmentunderthe new Lugo, who chairs the Insular and ment, as a sign of the local branch in initiating tax reforms as health care? responded to the survey favored A majority of those surveyed Majority said too many cases ease prevention; health care seven-year financial package of International Affairs Subcommit­ government’s efforts to achieve a means to cope with the match­ subsidized health care.