ATTORNEY Michael Dotts has suspended his representation of Imperial Pacific International in the United States Department of Labor’s Fair and Labor Standard Act violation case.
“I have suspended working for IPI. I am still counsel of record for IPI in a number of cases and I must remain as counsel of record until the court allows me to withdraw,” Dotts told Variety in an email on Thursday.
According to the former lead counsel, he suspended his work for IPI at the end of November.
I am still doing a few things for the company but I have to focus on other clients now,” he added.
I would like to say that I appreciate the effort of all the IPI employees who have been working without pay said Dotts in a statement.
Donald Browne, Frances Mafnas, Remy Mafnas, and Redie Dela Cruz in particular have been doing a fantastic job, and under very difficult conditions said the private attorney.
“I know there are many other employees who are also doing their best for the company even though they don’t get paid. But I have my own employees who I have to pay. I do support the idea of having a casino on Saipan, and IPI did prove that it can work. I hope this will all work out and that there will be a healthy casino industry on Saipan again soon,” Dotts added.
The USDOL on Tuesday filed a petition for contempt against IPI at the federal court for violations of the previous consent judgment and for failing to pay its employees for two months.
IPI among others agreed to pay USDOL $3,360,000 for back wages, liquidated damages, and civil monetary penalties.
