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Atalig appeals Govendo’s prison order
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Posted on Feb 10 2009
Antonio M. Atalig has appealed to the CNMI Supreme Court the order issued by Superior Court associate judge Kenneth Govendo sending him and fellow lawyer Reynaldo O. Yana back to jail for refusing to return the $1.3 million fee the two received from the Angel Malite estate.
Atalig, through counsel Douglas F. Cushnie, filed in the Superior Court a notice for his appeal to the Supreme Court. No arguments were included in Atalig’s notice.
Govendo ordered the continued detention of Yana and Atalig on Jan. 28 after denying them attorneys’ fees. Govendo ruled that the two owed the Malite estate $1.3 million.
In a written order, Govendo said Atalig is to be imprisoned until he returns attorneys’ fees in the amount of $500,000, while Yana is to be jailed until he returns $200,000.
“Mr. Atalig and Mr. Yana are not to be released from custody until they have tendered the amount,” Govendo said.
After having paid the amounts as ordered, Govendo said that Atalig and Yana shall then repay the remainder owed, until the full amount of $1,288,500 has been repaid.
Atalig and Yana have been in jail since March 2008 after Govendo found them in civil contempt for failing to return the $1.3 million.
