Peter-Palican was an appointee of the previous administration.
Designated Judge John C. Coughenour ruled that oral argument was unnecessary as the facts of the case had already been summarized at length and need not be repeated.
“Defendants failed to present a manifest error of law, newly discovered evidence, or a change in the law,” Coughenour said in his written order yesterday.
He also denied the CNMI government’s “motion to compensate [Peter-Palican] with front-pay instead of complying” with the court’s order that required the CNMI government to pay Peter-Palican over $245,000, representing her back wages, certain benefits lost, attorney’s fees and costs.
Coughenour also ordered the CNMI government to appoint or hire Peter-Palican within 30 days of the judgment to a commonwealth government position at a salary equal to or greater than what she had as special assistant for women’s affairs.
