Olive ex rel. People v. Dejongh

57 V.I. 24, 2012 WL 3867280, 2012 V.I. LEXIS 39
CourtSuperior Court of The Virgin Islands
DecidedAugust 3, 2012
DocketCivil No. ST-09-CV-426
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 57 V.I. 24 (Olive ex rel. People v. Dejongh) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Superior Court of The Virgin Islands primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Olive ex rel. People v. Dejongh, 57 V.I. 24, 2012 WL 3867280, 2012 V.I. LEXIS 39 (visuper 2012).

Opinion

DONOHUE, Presiding Judge

MEMORANDUM OPINION

(August 3, 2012)

THIS MATTER is before the Court on two motions to dismiss filed by Defendants Daryl Smalls and John P. deJongh, Jr. filed on March 2, 2010 and March 26, 2010, respectively. For the following reasons, the Complaint will be dismissed with prejudice as to all Defendants pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6).

I. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

The six Defendants are or were officers and employees of the executive branch of the Government of the United States Virgin Islands. At the time of the actions alleged in the Complaint, Defendant John P. deJongh, Jr. was the Governor of the United States Virgin Islands; Defendant Julito Francis was the Executive Director of the Virgin Islands Public Finance Authority; Defendant Vincent Frazer was the Attorney General of the United States Virgin Islands; Defendant Elliot Davis was the acting Attorney General of the United States Virgin Islands; Defendant Darryl Smalls was the Commissioner of Public Works; and Defendant Lynn Millin Maduro was the Commissioner of Property and Procurement. The Complaint specifies that each Defendant is being sued “in his [or her] individual capacity only.” (Compl. 1-2.)

The Complaint was filed on September 21, 2009, and alleges that Defendants conspired to defraud Virgin Islands taxpayers by converting public funds to private use in violation of the Restatement (Second) of Torts.1 Specifically, Plaintiff alleges that Defendants used their positions to authorize the expenditure of over $350,000 to construct a security fence, guard house, parking lot, and to pave a driveway on Defendant deJongh’s personal residence located at No. 23-9 Estate Mafolie on St. [31]*31Thomas (“Property”).2 The Complaint alleges that Defendant deJongh orchestrated the conversion beginning with his decision to reside in his personal residence rather than in the Government House on St. Thomas during his incumbency. Plaintiff claims the decision was made as part of a scheme by Defendant deJongh to defraud Virgin Islands taxpayers. Defendant Davis, who was the acting Attorney General at the time, issued a legal opinion on January 22, 2007 justifying the use of public funds to improve Defendant deJongh’s private residence.

After receiving Defendant Davis’s legal opinion, Defendant Smalls, the Commissioner of Public Works, issued a request for bids for the construction contract. The contract for the guard house was awarded to WMK Mechanical Group, LLC for $82,142.80. A change order later increased the contract price to $102,577.80. A second contract was awarded to Better Roads Asphalt Corporation to construct a parking lot and pave a driveway for $156,160.00. Both construction contracts were signed by Defendants Millin Maduro and deJongh, and the contracts were approved for legal sufficiency by Defendant Frazer. Defendant Smalls signed only the contract with Better Roads Asphalt Corporation.

The contract with WMK Mechanical Group, LLC to construct the guard house expired pursuant to its terms on January 4, 2008, but the contract was reinstated for a period of two additional months. In June 2008, the type of fencing used for the security fence on the property was changed from aluminum to steel, and the contract was again awarded to WMK Mechanical Group, LLC in the amount of $98,829.00. In total, Plaintiff’s Complaint alleges Defendants illegally authorized the expenditure of around $357,406.80 in public funds: $102,577.80 for the guard house; $98,829.00 for the steel security fence; and $156,000.00 for the driveway and parking lot construction.

Plaintiff further claims that Defendant deJongh violated Virgin Islands ethics and conflict of interest laws by authorizing the use of public funds to improve his personal property. Under Virgin Islands law, the Governor of the Virgin Islands also serves as the Chairman of the Board of Directors [32]*32of the Virgin Islands Public Finance Authority (“PFA”).3 Plaintiff alleges that Defendant deJongh abused that position and authority by reprogramming $1,037,278.80 initially designated to the PFA for the improvements to Defendant deJongh’s residence.

Plaintiff’s Complaint alleges that the actions of Defendants constitute conversion in violation of the Restatement (Second) of Torts and the people of the Virgin Islands are entitled to reimbursement of all public funds that were spent to improve Defendant deJongh’s private residence. Plaintiff claims that the actions of Defendants were done with reckless disregard for the rights of the people of the Virgin Islands and, therefore, punitive damages are appropriate. Plaintiff requests a trial by jury on all issues. Defendants have each filed an Answer denying the allegations in the Complaint.

On March 2, 2010, Defendant Daryl Smalls filed a Motion to Dismiss and an accompanying memorandum of law. Defendant Smalls argues that Plaintiff has failed to state a claim upon which relief can be granted and the Complaint should be dismissed pursuant Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6). Defendant Smalls argues (1) that an individual taxpayer does not have standing to sue to recover money on behalf of the government of the Virgin Islands; (2) that Plaintiff Lawrence Olive does not and cannot allege that he suffered any individual harm as a result of Defendants’ actions; and (3) that Plaintiff fails to satisfy the elements of any viable cause of action for fraud or conversion. Defendant Julito Francis joined in Defendant Smalls’ Motion to Dismiss on March 19, 2010.

On March 26, 2010, Defendant John P. deJongh, Jr. filed a Motion to Dismiss and an accompanying memorandum of law. Defendant deJongh argues that Plaintiff lacks standing to challenge the expenditures to improve the Property, but even if Plaintiff did have standing, the Complaint fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted and the Complaint should be dismissed pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6). Defendant deJongh argues (1) that Virgin Islands conflict of interest rules do not provide a private right of action to individuals; (2) that Plaintiff’s tort claims of fraud and conversion fail because Defendants are immune from civil suit, because Plaintiff did not [33]*33comply with the Virgin Islands Tort Claims Act, and because Plaintiff did not plead facts showing entitlement to recover under those causes of action; and (3) that Plaintiff’s taxpayer suit under Title 5, Section 80 of the Virgin Islands Code fails because Plaintiff seeks monetary damages, Defendants were sued in their individual capacities, and the improvements made to the Property were not illegal, unauthorized, or wrongful.

The Court issued an Order dated May 14, 2012 giving Plaintiff twenty (20) days to respond to the motions to dismiss. Plaintiffs Response to Defendants’ Motion[s] to Dismiss dated June 6, 2032 was not filed until June 13, 2012. Defendants deJongh and Smalls each filed a Reply to Plaintiffs Response on June 14, 2012.

II. DISCUSSION

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
57 V.I. 24, 2012 WL 3867280, 2012 V.I. LEXIS 39, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/olive-ex-rel-people-v-dejongh-visuper-2012.