IMPERIAL Pacific International LLC chair Cui Li Jie told the federal court that she was poorly represented in the court proceedings of the lawsuit of seven workers who sued IPI over labor abuse and human trafficking allegations.
Cui is a third-party witness in the civil litigation and was represented by attorney Juan T. Lizama.
Recently, the plaintiffs’ attorney, Aaron Halegua, asked the court to impose a $10,000 daily sanction on Cui for not complying with a court order directing her to file a sworn statement that addresses all aspects of her creation and use of Electronically Stored Information or ESI data.
In a sworn affidavit prepared by her assistant, How Yo-Chi, Cui said, “The alleged failures are caused largely, if not all of them, by Mr. (Juan) Lizama, who for some reason beyond my comprehension had failed to inform me of everything communicated to him by the opposite lawyers. Nor had he given me clear and effective instructions on what to comply with.”
As an example, she presented Exhibit 2, which, she said, demonstrates that “Mr. Lizama on May 25 passed Mr. Halegua’s request for me to submit written answers to many questions by 5 p.m. of May 21.”
Cui said Lizama “told me to comply with a request whose deadline had passed four days ago. How could I be able to comply with such request?”
She said a detailed explanation of her lawyer’s “failures” will be provided soon to the court, “and in particular when I find a responsible and competent lawyer to represent me in the present proceedings.”
Cui also requested for more time to comply with the order and obtain legal representation.
“My legal rights cannot be adequately protected without the assistance of competent lawyers. I have been honest and cooperative in complying with court’s orders and requests of the plaintiffs. However, I have to plea to the court to understand my difficult situation. I do not speak English and do not know the American legal system well…. I have to trust and rely hundred percent on my lawyer, Mr. Lizama’s advices on what to do. Mr. Chi has helped me and Mr. Lizama to communicate. Both me and Mr. Chi state that we have cooperated to the best we can with all instructions and requests from Mr. Lizama. This is why I cannot understand why there are so many alleged failures against me.”
Variety was unable to get a comment from attorney Lizama.
Recently, Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona entered a $5.9 million default judgment in favor of the plaintiffs against IPI.
“IPI was the driving force” behind the “egregious conditions” faced by the plaintiffs, all the “while benefiting from that exploitation,” the judge said.
The plaintiffs were employed by IPI’s former contractor and subcontractor, MCC International and Gold Mantis, both of which have already settled with the plaintiffs.
Juan T. Lizama
