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SC starts $15M Hillblom hearing
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Posted on Apr 20 1999
Associate Justice Alexandro Castro presided yesterday the preliminary distribution of the Hillblom funds among heir claimants.
With lawyers coming from the mainland and the Philippines gathered at his sala, he said it was the day that everybody looked forward to.
“I will call this as the $15 million hearing,” he said.
He opened the distribution trial addressing the issue involving Atty. Antonio Atalig, who represented the Felicianos in the Philippines.
A case pending at the Superior Court will resolve the counsel of the Felicianos. However, the lower court failed to act on this case prior to Atalig’s representation of the Filipinos.
Atalig’s presence at the court yesterday was not met with opposition from other lawyers who wanted to move on with the trial.
“My main concern is that the children are protected to the maximum,” Castro said and allowed Atalig to represent the Felicianos.
The trial proceeded to a careful review of the provisions which will govern the funds distribution. Castro led a page by page discussion with the representatives and executor of Hillblom’s $15 million.
The review of the provisions will continue today.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court granted a counsel’s motion to withdraw from a “frivolous case.”
In the case between the CNMI and Antolin Luck, a brief was forwarded to the higher court citing the decision made by the U.S. Supreme Court.
The U.S. Supreme Court stated in its decision for the Anders vs. California case, if a counsel finds his case to be wholly frivolous, he may seek permission to withdraw providing the court with a brief supporting his point.
With this traffic case, the CNMI Supreme Court agreed that it’s frivolous and granted his request to withdraw.
