Judge dismisses Sablan, JG Sablan Rock lawsuit vs DPL
The federal court on Wednesday dismissed businessman John T. Sablan’s and his JG Sablan Rock Quarry Inc.’s lawsuit against the Department of Public Lands over a mining permit issue.
U.S. District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona dismissed with prejudice the lawsuit following the parties’ request after they reached a settlement deal.
Dismissed with prejudice means the case cannot be re-opened again.
Manglona said the court has reviewed the settlement agreement and shall retain jurisdiction to enforce that deal.
Attorney Michael W. Dotts, as counsel for Sablan and JG Sablan Rock Quarry Inc., and assistant attorney general Peter B. Prestley, as counsel for defendant DPL, recently filed in court a stipulated dismissal.
Dotts and Prestley informed the court that having reached a settlement, they agree to the dismissal of the lawsuit, with all parties to bear their own fees and costs.
The lawyers asked the court to retain jurisdiction to enforce their settlement agreement. They submitted their settlement deal to the court for review.
Sablan and JG Sablan Rock Quarry reportedly reached a $4.8-million settlement with the CNMI government in connection with the company’s legal battle with DPL that began in 2006 when DPL terminated JG Sablan’s mining permit.
At a settlement hearing last June 24, Dotts disclosed that Sablan has agreed to pay $4,806,867 to the CNMI government and the latter will issue a mining permit for Pagan Island.
The length of the permit will be for 20 years, with a $100,000 permit fee payable in 120 days from its execution.
Wow almost $5mil, I thought that that the settlement was only over $1mil. NOW if the private tourism related people along with the residents can work a deal out with the Govt. to use some of that money to build a docking facility and some type of infrastructure for tourists, including maybe a type of Taga house to be able to accommodate short term tourists this may lead to some income and attraction for diving, hiking etc.
This is if Sablan has the capacity to pay. Since he has to do some development there anyway it may be incorporated as part of his payments along with a Northern mayors Office if the one candidate gets elected that wants to move the office there.
There may be eventually that tourism can help fund the NI Mayors office on pagan.