THE decision of the U.S Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit to reverse the ruling of the District Court for NMI is a “tremendous triumph” not only for the Commonwealth Casino Commission, but for the entire Commonwealth government, CCC Chairman Edward C. Deleon Guerrero said on Thursday.
During their monthly meeting on Thursday, the commissioners were informed by their legal counsel, Assistant Attorney General Keisha Blaise, that the Ninth Circuit had reversed the district court’s ruling, which prevented IPI from revoking Imperial Pacific International LLC’s casino license, and compelled CCC to arbitrate its dispute with the casino investor.
The arbitration, which was held in Hawaii in May, cost the CNMI government $350,000.
Blaise said the Ninth Circuit remanded the case to the district court which means that CCC’s revocation hearing can resume.
She said the Ninth Circuit ruled that arbitration wasn’t required and that the decision on the revocation and suspension of IPI’s exclusive casino license should be before the commission.
The commission’s chairman, Edward C. Deleon Guerrero, who attended the meeting Thursday via videoconference, commended Blaise for a job well done.
He said the Ninth Circuit’s decision “is a tremendous triumph for the commission and strengthened our authority in enforcing casino gaming regulations.”
Now, he added, the commission can pursue its enforcement actions against IPI for failing to meet its financial obligations to the CNMI government. These include the annual exclusive casino license fee and the regulatory fee.
Deleon Guerrero said IPI owes over $46 million in exclusive license fee and over $9 million in regulatory fee for a total of over $56 million.
Commissioner Ramon Dela Cruz also congratulated their legal counsel for a job well done.
“This is a major victory for the entire Commonwealth, and it has showed everybody that has been critical of our operation that we do indeed know what we are doing,” he said.
From left, Commonwealth Casino Commissioners Martin Mendiola, Mario Taitano, Ralph S. Demapan, Ramon Dela Cruz and legal counsel Keisha Blaise during a meeting on Thursday in Gualo Rai.
