THE bench trial for USA Fanter Corporation Ltd.’s defamation allegation against Imperial Pacific International LLC will begin on March 1 at 9 a.m. in the federal courthouse.
USA Fanter, which has sued IPI for breach of contract, has also accused the casino developer of making libelous statements in a press release IPI transmitted to the two local newspapers.
USA Fanter, a former construction contractor of IPI, is seeking damages.
According to a 17-page lawsuit filed by USA Fanter attorney Samuel I. Mok on Feb. 24, 2020, the press release issued by IPI was in reference to certain construction work performed by USA Fanter with respect to the VIP wing and exterior work of IPI’s hotel-casino project in Garapan.
“Specifically, IPI stated that USA Fanter purportedly lied about the actual construction work performed, issued false reports, forged project quantity numbers, forged a payment, fabricated units of material used, fabricated prices and double-billed for work performed,” the lawsuit stated.
“IPI’s statements were false and defamatory and USA Fanter’s business reputation was adversely affected as a result,” it added.
USA Fanter wanted IPI to make a public retraction of the alleged defamatory statements, but IPI declined to do so.
According to the lawsuit, at that time there was an outstanding balance of over $2 million for construction work related to the VIP wing and exterior work of the IPI hotel-casino that was being built in Garapan.
The defamation lawsuit also alleged that it was only after USA Fanter complained to the Commonwealth Casino Commission that IPI suddenly accused USA Fanter of disreputable and illegal business practices with respect to the work performed for the hotel-casino project.
USA Fanter is seeking $250,000 in damages to reputation and $250,000 in punitive damages.
IPI has denied the defamation allegation.
