Tanoco v. Southern Cross Investment Corp.

Northern Mariana Islands Commonwealth Trial Court

Tanoco v. Southern Cross Investment Corp.

3 N. Mar. I. Commw. 20

Northern Mariana Islands Commonwealth Trial Court·Decided April 22, 1987·No. CIVIL ACTION NO. 86-769·Published

Opinion

ORDER AND OPINION

This matter came on for hearing in chambers this 21st day of April 1987 on Defendant's Offer of Judgment and Plaintiff's Reply. The Parties appeared through their respective counsel.

The Court has inherent power to review settlements of parties in actions pending before the Court and to accept or reject the parties' settlement. The Court has reviewed the settlement in this action as reflected by Defendant's Offer of Judgment and Plaintiff's Reply and the parties' counsels' discussion in chambers. The Court finds the settlement is fair [22]*22and reasonable and adopts it.

WHEREFORE, the Court orders as follows:

1. Plaintiff is awarded judgment against Defendant Southern Cross Investment Corp. of Eight Hundred Ten Dollars (810.00) plus cost and value of a one way airplane ticket to Manila, Philippines.

2. Defendant Southern Cross Investment Corp. is assessed with costs of this action in the amount of Forty Dollars ($40.00). Because Plaintiff proceeded in forma pauperis, Defendant shall pay the costs directly to the Clerk of Courts.

3. Deftndam shall satisfy the judgment by May 5, 1987.

4. Plaintiff shall timely notify the Court of satisfaction of the judgment. Upon satisfaction of the judgment, the action and^ claims against all Defendants and the counterclaims against Plaintiff shall be dismissed with prejudice.

The Court further finds that the mandate of 3 CMC ~4447(d) requiring liquidated damages and attorneys fees does not preclude the Plaintiff, non-resident worker, from waiving these particular remedies. See Evans v. Jeff D., 54 USLW 4359 (U.S. Sup. Ct. 1986). The Court interprets the mandatory language of 3 CMC 14447(d) as being applicable in situations where the matter is adjudicated either administratively or by the court; 3 CMC 14447(d) does not mandate the award of fees where the parties have agreed to settle contingent upon a fee waiver and the Court has accepted the settlement.

[23]*23WHEREFORE, the Court further adopts the settlement fee waiver and orders as follows:

5. Neither Plaintiff nor Plaintiff's counsel is entitled to recover attorney fees from Defendants.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

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ORDER AND OPINION

This matter came on for hearing in chambers this 21st day of April 1987 on Defendant's Offer of Judgment and Plaintiff's Reply. The Parties appeared through their respective counsel.

The Court has inherent power to review settlements of parties in actions pending before the Court and to accept or reject the parties' settlement. The Court has reviewed the settlement in this action as reflected by Defendant's Offer of Judgment and Plaintiff's Reply and the parties' counsels' discussion in chambers. The Court finds the settlement is fair [22]*22and reasonable and adopts it.

WHEREFORE, the Court orders as follows:

1. Plaintiff is awarded judgment against Defendant Southern Cross Investment Corp. of Eight Hundred Ten Dollars (810.00) plus cost and value of a one way airplane ticket to Manila, Philippines.

2. Defendant Southern Cross Investment Corp. is assessed with costs of this action in the amount of Forty Dollars ($40.00). Because Plaintiff proceeded in forma pauperis, Defendant shall pay the costs directly to the Clerk of Courts.

3. Deftndam shall satisfy the judgment by May 5, 1987.

4. Plaintiff shall timely notify the Court of satisfaction of the judgment. Upon satisfaction of the judgment, the action and^ claims against all Defendants and the counterclaims against Plaintiff shall be dismissed with prejudice.

The Court further finds that the mandate of 3 CMC ~4447(d) requiring liquidated damages and attorneys fees does not preclude the Plaintiff, non-resident worker, from waiving these particular remedies. See Evans v. Jeff D., 54 USLW 4359 (U.S. Sup. Ct. 1986). The Court interprets the mandatory language of 3 CMC 14447(d) as being applicable in situations where the matter is adjudicated either administratively or by the court; 3 CMC 14447(d) does not mandate the award of fees where the parties have agreed to settle contingent upon a fee waiver and the Court has accepted the settlement.

[23]*23WHEREFORE, the Court further adopts the settlement fee waiver and orders as follows:

5. Neither Plaintiff nor Plaintiff's counsel is entitled to recover attorney fees from Defendants.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

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Tanoco v. Southern Cross Investment Corp., 3 N. Mar. I. Commw. 20 (cnmitrialct 1987).

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3 N. Mar. I. Commw. 20 (Tanoco v. Southern Cross Investment Corp.) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.