Kaipat estate’s ousted administrator scolded

The Superior Court scolded Tuesday ousted Rita Kaipat estate administrator Luis K. Pelisamen. This developed as Pelisamen’s former attorney Joseph Arriola failed to show up at the scheduled hearing.

Associate Judge Juan T. Lizama first got upset when Pelisamen, whom he called to the witness stand, refused to answer questions and informed the court that he needs one month to look for a lawyer.

“We’re not playing games. I can hold you in contempt. I can even put you in jail now. I warned you. We’re not playing games here,” the visibly irked Lizama said.

Lizama asked Pelisamen whether he complied with the court’s previous order requiring him to retrieve the estate’s money issued to surveyors. The former estate administrator responded that he wants a lawyer before answering the question.

Lizama asked him if he had looked for a lawyer after the court directed him Friday to get one to represent him. Pelisamen claimed he was looking for one, but that he could not find one as he has no money.

When the judge asked him how long he thinks he could get a lawyer, Pelisamen answered “one month.”

That answer visibly upset the judge. Lizama ordered that the hearing continue on May 30 to give Pelisamen time to find a lawyer.

Lizama also brought to attention Pelisamen’s letter to the CNMI Supreme Court in which Pelisamen attacked him for alleged bias in the probate and accused Lizama’s family of having a history of mental problem.

The former administrator admitted that he was the one who wrote the letter.

When Lizama asked him to step down from the witness stand, Pelisamen proceeded to the bench where some family members were near the court’s entrance.

The judge stopped him and ordered him to stay at the defense’s table.

“Mr. Pelisamen, I don’t care who you are. I don’t care about your money. I don’t care about how beautiful you are. I don’t care how handsome you are. You’ve got to show respect to the court. This is not the court that can be intimidated. This court can never be intimidated. Keep that in your mind!” Lizama said.

After the judge excused him, Pelisamen walked to a family member and went out of the courtroom.

Lizama called to the bench the estate’s heirs counsel Viola Alepuyo, Edward Arriola, Joaquin Torres, Perry B. Inos, Antonio Atalig, and Bruce Mailman.

When the Saipan Tribune left the courtroom Tuesday afternoon, the judge was still talking to the lawyers.

Before the scheduled 1:30pm hearing, the same lawyers had a meeting with Lizama in his office.

Sources said Arriola sent a fax to the court, asking to be excused from the proceedings because of a medical problem.

Chief Prosecutor Jeffery Warfield Sr. watched the hearing.

On Friday, Lizama removed Pelisamen as administrator of the Rita Kaipat estate and granted Arriola’s request to withdraw as counsel for the administrator.

Lizama appointed an interim administrator as replacement for Luis K. Pelisamen. The judge did not disclose the identity of the new administrator.

Lizama also froze the account of Rita Kaipat estate and prevented Arriola and Pelisamen from conducting bank transactions involving the estate’s money.

Arriola asked the court to allow him to withdraw from representing Pelisamen after he learned that the balance in the bank account was far less than the expected amount.

The Rita Kaipat estate was awarded by the defunct Marianas Public Lands Authority $4.7 million in land compensation settlement. The amount was split equally among three estates, Rita, Isaac, and Benigno Kaipat.

On Nov. 25, 2005, Arriola and Pelisamen opened a checking account in the amount of $1,377,058.39 at the Bank of Hawaii under the account name: Estate of Rita Kaipat.

Maria M. Indalecio, administrator of the Carmen Guelles estate, told the Saipan Tribune that it was the check in the amount of $271,000 given her that bounced due to insufficient funds.