IPI OK with Ewing settlement
Imperial Pacific International is open to settlement talks with Danny Ewing, a former Best Sunshine International, Ltd. employee who filed a wrongful termination lawsuit against the casino owner.
George Lloyd Hasselback has informed the U.S. District Court for the NMI that his client, Imperial Pacific, will be willing to discuss settlement with Ewing, Best Sunshine’s former casino vice president of table games.
In a statement filed in court on Wednesday, Hasselback also disclosed that they will shortly be filing an amended answer to Ewing’s claims.
Hasselback said he has discussed this with Ewing and received the latter’s consent to the filing.
As to jurisdiction and venue in this case, the lawyer said Imperial Pacific does not perceive any issue at this time.
In his lawsuit, Ewing, through counsel William M. Fitzgerald, alleged that the casino management was engaging in illegal practices, among other things, when it allowed a customer to deposit $400,000 with the casino’s cashier without the required Anti-Money Laundering identification.
Imperial Pacific operates at the T Galleria the Best Sunshine Live, a temporary casino that trains workers to ultimately service its permanent casino, now being constructed in Garapan.
Ewing is suing Imperial Pacific for wrongful termination in violation of public policy (anti-money laundering standards and regulations), (Fair Labor Standards Act and Occupation Safety and Health Act regulations), (immigration violations); wrongful failure to hire; and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
Ewing is demanding payment of unspecified damages.
Imperial Pacific has denied the allegations. Hasselback has asserted that the federal court lacks jurisdiction over the claims contained in the lawsuit.
Hasselback also argued that Ewing’s claims should be barred and/or limited by his failure to mitigate damages.
In Imperial Pacific’s answer and affirmative defenses to Ewing’s lawsuit, Hasselback said his client denies the allegations that the company failed to implement or enforce an adequate anti-money laundering program.
Mmmmmmm something fishy getting smelly ! ! ! Remember this in the future as a first sign ! ! !
How come Imperial Pacific dba Best Sunshine has so many lawsuits in its hand with only the first phase of its investment schemes? Can you imagine down the line when its $7 BILLION MEGA RESORT construction phases are getting underway, how many more of this type of lawsuits will crop up? Is financing the real problem causing these lawsuits to crop up because of its downgraded credit rating as reported in the paper not too long ago and that stock market investors are demanding a much higher percentage rate return? These are the type of questions the Casino Commission memebers, Executive and Legislative Branch should be asking out loud.
“Can you imagine down the line when its $7 BILLION MEGA RESORT construction phases are getting underway, how many more of this type of lawsuits will crop up?”
What you state, Agreed, but it should be a big “IF” the rest of the projected project “ever” gets underway.
Also “IF” the first phase is ever completed, especially since they are requesting a 5 year extension on completion now.
Are you serious? I am really bothered by the second “IF”. It is may gut feeling now that you mentioned about project completion of its first phase from ever being finished on time as originally contracted for. If they are NOT experiencing funding problem, these lawsuits would NOT be cropping up. By connecting the DOTS seeing all the tell tell signs, I am afraid there is a horrific potential problem brewing momentarily. Five year extension of the current casino/hotel construction? Oh, what a mind boggling, shall we say? Just as well forget the first “IF”