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Ex-IPI employee’s lawsuit is dismissed
U.S. District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona dismissed Wednesday the lawsuit filed by a former VIP services host against Imperial Pacific International (CNMI) LLC over alleged non-payment of overtime compensation, among other allegations.
The dismissal is with prejudice, which means Shirline Loh, who is based in Singapore, can no longer re-file the case.
Manglona gave the dismissal order at the request of IPI and Loh Tuesday after both parties agreed to settle the case. The judge ordered each party to bear their own costs and fees, including attorney’s fees.
Manglona directed the court’s clerk to vacate all hearings and close the case.
IPI’s counsel, Kelley M. Butcher, and Loh’s counsel, William M. Fitzgerald, told the court last Dec. 12 that both parties have agreed to settle and that they would be asking the court to dismiss the case once all documentations are completed.
Loh, a citizen of Singapore, sued IPI for Fair Labor Standards Act violation—unpaid minimum wage and unpaid overtime compensation, and conversion.
In her lawsuit, Loh sought payment, among other claims, of her shares of tips designed for the VIP hosts that were allegedly wrongfully converted by IPO for its own use.
Loh worked for IPI from Oct. 15, 2015, to August 2016.
In IPI’s answer to the lawsuit, Butcher said IPI acted in good faith at all times and had reasonable grounds for believing its actions were in compliance with the Fair Labor Standards Act.
