THE local Supreme Court has dismissed former Rep. Ana Sablan Teregeyo’s appeal of the dismissal of her negligence lawsuit against the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp.
In their ruling, Justice John Manglona, Justice Perry Inos, and Justice Pro Tempore Robert T. Torres granted the CNMI government’s motion to dismiss Teregeyo’s appeal.
According to the high court, Teregeyo failed to file her opening brief by the Dec. 9, 2020 deadline set in the briefing schedule. She also did not request an extension of time to file her brief.
After the CNMI government moved to dismiss her appeal under NMI Supreme Court Rule 31(c), Teregeyo did not file an opposition within eight days after she was e-served the motion on Dec. 11, 2020 and personally served on Dec. 17, 2020.
Teregeyo, who represented herself, filed the notice of appeal on April 4, 2019 after the Superior Court dismissed her lawsuit for her failure to deliver a copy of the summons and complaint to the Office of the Attorney General.
Teregeyo filed her lawsuit in May 2016. She alleged that CHCC’s negligence resulted in her left knee and leg becoming infected, causing her to undergo five surgeries and knee replacement.
Teregeyo’s original lawsuit named CHCC, Chief Executive Officer Esther L. Muna, and certain medical staff officers as defendants. She later filed an amended complaint and added Dr. Greg Kotheimer and Dr. Sherleen Osmand as defendants.
On March 13, 2019, Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho dismissed Teregeyo’s lawsuit for lack of personal jurisdiction because of insufficiency of service.
“Plaintiff failed to show any attempts to serve the Office of the Attorney General or circumstances that prevented her from serving the defendant Commonwealth Government in a timely manner,” the judge said.
