CNMI govt settles Neal’s discrimination lawsuit

The CNMI government has reached an irrevocable settlement with former acting prosecutor Shelli Neal in connection with her discrimination lawsuit filed in federal court against the Commonwealth.

Neal, through counsel Daniel T. Guidotti, dismissed her case and all claims, with prejudice. Dismissal with prejudice means Neal can no longer re-file the lawsuit.

Guidotti, however, asked the U.S. District Court for the NMI to retain jurisdiction over the case to enforce the irrevocable settlement.

Each party is to bear its own attorney’s fees and costs.

At a settlement conference before Senior Judge Alex R. Munson last Oct. 11, Guidotti and CNMI government lawyers Lillian Tenorio and Christopher Timmons informed the court that they have reached irrevocable settlement.

The government settled without admitting any fault, liability, or wrongdoing. The settlement deal was filed under seal.

Neal filed the original lawsuit in December 2015. She named the Office of the Attorney General as defendant in the case.

Neal alleged, among other things, that male prosecutors revealed confidential information to opposing lawyers regarding her cases in an effort to sabotage the cases and results.

Last July, Neal filed a second amended complaint, naming only the CNMI government as the defendant.

Neal asked the court to hold the CNMI government liable to pay her back pay and other relief necessary to eradicate the effects of the Commonwealth’s alleged unlawful practices.

She requested the court to find the government liable to pay her damages to exceed $25,000. She also wants to be reinstated to her previous position as chief prosecutor.