FORMER U.S. Congressman Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan has filed a complaint in Superior Court against a construction company for failing to pay rent on a property in Chalan Kanoa.
Sablan, represented by attorney Vince Seman, sued Nero S. Ortizo, also known as Roy Ortizo, for breach of contract. The defendant is doing business as RM System Construction.
Sablan wants a jury trial and has asked the court for a judgment of $18,840 in monthly rent and $2,175 in late fees.
The lawsuit is also asking the court to issue an order terminating the lease and for Sablan to recover possession of the property.
The property that is the subject of the complaint is Lot No. 015 H 11 on Joaquin Kiyu Avenue in Chalan Kanoa.
Sablan is the simple owner of the property.
According to the lawsuit, in June 2019, the plaintiff and the defendant, on behalf of RM System Construction, entered into a residential lease agreement.
The rental term was 10 years, starting from June 1, 2019, and ending on May 31, 2029.
The defendant resides on the property and uses it as his primary place of business, the lawsuit stated.
He was supposed to pay a monthly rent due no later than the first day of each and every month, and a late fee of $75 if the rental payment is more than five days late.
During the first five years (June 2019-May 2024), the monthly rent for the property was $600, and was increased to $660 for the remaining five years of the lease (until May 2029), the lawsuit stated
The defendant failed to pay rent for five months — from August to December 2021 — when the monthly rate was $600, and for a two-year period from April 2023 to April 2025, when the rent increased to $660 per month.
As a result, the lawsuit stated, the defendant now owes $18,840 in monthly rent, and late fees for the 29 months totaling $2,175.
The lawsuit stated that, pursuant to the lease, any amount owed to Sablan and not paid by the defendant when due shall accrue interest at a rate of 12% from the date it became due.
Sablan, through his attorney, hand-delivered a written demand to the defendant for full payment of the rent owed, along with a notice to vacate the property.
