HKPA withdraws motion for limited receivership vs. American Sinopan

H.K. Pangelinan & Associates LLC has withdrawn its motion for a limited receivership against American Sinopan LLC for the sale of the property developer’s subleased properties to satisfy an over $400,000 judgment granted in favor of HKPA.

HKPA’s lawyer, Colin Thompson, withdrew last Thursday the motion asking the U.S. District Court for the NMI to appoint Ronnie D. Hodges to serve as the limited receiver in its case against property developer American Sinopan.

Back in April 2022, U.S. District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Ramona issued a default judgement of $477,000 against American Sinopan in the breach of contract case filed by HKPA.

Thompson withdrew his motion due to issues identified by the court, but the court has yet to issue an official order detailing these issues.

According to court documents, HKPA, an architectural and engineering firm, sued property developer American Sinopan last April 2022.

HKPA claimed that American Sinopan did not pay for services rendered in designing the Saipan Garden Resort and Heaven II development projects worth over $421,800 plus interest.

On April 4, 2021, HKPA filed a complaint and demand for jury trial against American Sinopan. On May 3, 2021, American Sinopan filed a motion to dismiss the case. On June 2, 2021, the court denied the defendant’s motion to dismiss the complaint. The defendant filed its answer on June 16, 2021.

At a case management conference, the defendant’s lawyer at the time, Jordan Sundell, informed the court that he would be moving off-island and was seeking to find a substitute counsel to replace him. On Nov. 11, 2021, Sundell filed his motion to withdraw as counsel for defendant. On Dec. 15, 2021, the court granted Sundell’s motion and ordered American Sinopan to find a new lawyer within 30 days and set a status conference for Jan. 27, 2022.

However, on Jan. 27, 2022, American Sinopan did not appear at the status conference and failed to have any lawyer enter an appearance on their behalf.

On Jan. 28, 2022, the court issued an order to show cause against American Sinopan.

Nearly three months later, American Sinopan failed to appear at the show cause hearing and the court issued an order of default.

On Jan. 13, 2023, HKPA asked the court for an entry of default judgment against American Sinopan. After over a month, the court did that in the amount of $477,000.

HKPA later asked for attorneys’ fees in the amount of $9,066.88 and costs in the amount of $531.88. The court granted HKPA’s motion awarded HKPA the amount of $8,805.00 as attorneys’ fees and $531.88 in costs.

Last January, HKPA filed its motion for a limited receivership because American Sinopan had not made efforts to satisfy the judgment.