CHIEF Judge Ramona V. Manglona of the District Court for the NMI on Thursday ordered the closure of Brandon M. Rangamar’s lawsuit against the CNMI government, the Department of Public Safety, Marianas Variety and Saipan Tribune.
Six months ago, the order noted, the federal court dismissed with prejudice Rangamar’s 5th and 14th Amendment claims for frivolousness, but allowed him to amend his lawsuit as to the defamation claim only.
“To the extent that Rangamar may have a potentially viable claim for defamation, he must allege sufficient facts establishing diversity jurisdiction for that claim,” Judge Manglona said in her previous order.
She said if Rangamar would pursue this claim, he must file a First Amended Complaint no later than Feb. 28, 2022. Failure to file an amended complaint by this deadline would result in the court dismissing this action with prejudice and directing the clerk to close the case, the judge has said.
“To date, the court has not received any first amended complaint or any other filings from Rangamar,” the judge said on Thursday as she dismissed his civil lawsuit with prejudice and directed the clerk of court to close the case.
With prejudice means the case cannot be refiled.
Rangamar who represented himself, sued the CNMI government for enacting a law that allows any worldwide or local entity to broadly publish “damaging, detailed information of crimes still pending in court proceedings.”
Rangamar accused DPS of publicly “embarrassing” him by posting his photo “and damaging detailed information” of his alleged crime on Facebook on April 7, 2021.
He was referring to a media release issued by DPS regarding a stalking incident on Feb. 21, 2021, identifying Rangamar as a suspect.
For their part, Marianas Variety and Saipan Tribune “published a headline with careless defamation and slander,” Rangamar said.
He asked the federal court to issue an order “correcting” the law that the CNMI government created.
He also wanted the defendants to publicly apologize to him “and pay all entitled punitive or exemplary money damages.”
