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Woman sues govt, ex-employers for $1.8M
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Posted on Aug 29 2005
A woman yesterday filed with the Superior Court a lawsuit against the CNMI government and her former employer and asked for an award of over $1.8 million in damages over alleged false charges and wrongful detention.
In her complaint, Lolina Valino Catap said her former employers, Yong Jin Lee and Tae Woo Corp., falsely complained against her at the Department of Public Safety on Oct. 16, 2002.
Catap claimed that the employers’ complaint was retaliatory in that it followed her filing of a labor complaint against them on Sept. 26 of the same year.
Because of the employers’ complaint with the DPS, police arrested and detained Catap. Prosecutors charged Catap with theft and theft by failure to make required disposition of funds received, according to her.
Court records show that Judge Juan T. Lizama dismissed the criminal charges against Catap with finality in an order dated July 1, 2003. The judge based the decision on the Attorney General’s Office’s request.
Catap asked the court for an award of $900,000 for the alleged false accusation against her and her wrongful detention. She asked for another $900,000 for the suffering and pain she, her family members and friends had to undergo, and for her lost income.
Although Catap filed the lawsuit by herself, she asked the court for an award of attorney’s fees in the amount of $15,000 plus reimbursement of future attorney’s fees. She indicated that she reserves her right to retain the services of an attorney in the future.
