FIRE inspector Anthony Babauta and former fire chief Claudio Norita have settled a lawsuit filed against them by Double A Corp., a company that specializes in fire sprinkler and suppression systems.
Double A sued Babauta and Norita for not issuing a permit for a $410,150 sprinkler system that the plaintiff was hired to install at an establishment.
District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona on Monday was informed by the plaintiff and the defendants that they had reached a settlement, which “shall remain confidential.”
Double A owner Antonie Santos was present at the hearing with attorney Joseph Horey.
Babauta and Norita were also present at the hearing with their respective government lawyers, Assistant Attorneys General Jose Mafnas Jr. and Keisha Blaise.
The parties will submit a stipulated motion to dismiss by Feb. 3, and the status conference set for Feb. 4 will be vacated.
Double A sued Norita and Babauta on March 27, 2019 for deprivation of property without due process, and deprivation of liberty without due process. Double A demanded a jury trial.
The federal judge earlier noted that the Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services permitting process was “a textbook example of how not to run a bureaucracy.”
In her 11-page order in September 2020, the judge said, “There are only two ways to resolve the issues in this case: either (1) a trial, or (2) a very patient mediator.”
The court also held that what happened was a violation of Double A’s due process rights.
In its lawsuit, Double A asked the court to award the company damages, including lost income and incidental and consequential damages.
