FORMER Sen. Ray N. Yumul represented Imperial Pacific International LLC as its chief executive officer in the settlement conference of a sexual harassment case on Wednesday.
Ray N. Yumul
In a previous order, Magistrate Judge Heather Kennedy of the District Court for the NMI required IPI to have a representative with full authority to participate in a settlement conference.
She said the representative must be able to make an immediate decision about a settlement without having to obtain permission to respond to settlement offers or consult with a person or an entity not participating in the conference.
With Yumul were IPI vice president for public affairs Tao Xing and attorney Stephen Nutting.
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission was represented by attorney Eric Yau and law clerk Chris Afgani who both appeared via Zoom.
IPI must submit a declaration on who has full authority to participate in the settlement by noon today, Thursday.
Discussion between the parties will continue, according to the hearing minutes.
The judge rescheduled another status conference regarding settlement for Feb. 17, 2021.
In September 2019, EEOC sued IPI in federal court over allegations of sexual harassment and unfair employment practices on behalf of Shirlene Loh, a VIP hostess, “and other similarly aggrieved female employees.”
IPI has denied all the allegations or inference in the complaint that it has engaged in any unlawful employment practices, and has asked the court to rule in its favor and dismiss the complaint with prejudice.
A jury trial has been scheduled for Sept. 28, 2021.
