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Judge hears Jorgensen’s request to proceed with suit vs Fund
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Posted on Jul 21 2011
The federal court yesterday placed under advisement attorney Bruce Jorgensen’s motion to lift the court’s order that stayed the proceedings in his lawsuit against Gov. Benigno Fitial and the NMI Retirement Fund over alleged non-payment of his two clients’ retirement benefits.
After listening to the arguments by counsels, U.S. District Court for the NMI visiting judge William Q. Hayes said he will issue a decision later.
Jorgensen argued telephonically on behalf of his two unnamed clients. Attorney Braddock Huesman argued the Fund’s and its board’s opposition to lifting the stay. Assistant attorney general Meaghan Hassel-Shearer argued on behalf of the CNMI government. The hearing lasted only about 10 to 15 minutes.
Jorgensen had asked the court to lift the stay order so that he could proceed with his lawsuit.
Huesman said it is the Fund’s and its board’s view that lifting the stay at this time is improper as they have a pending appeal with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit over the federal court’s order denying the Fund’s motion to dismiss Jorgensen’s lawsuit.
The Fund’s board of trustees and its three board members recently asked the federal court to sanction Jorgensen for improper allegations.
