Case ID: n-mar-i-commw_2/html/0581-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "JUDGE ALFRED LAURETA", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Decided May 22, 1986
    
      UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS
    JUAN T. LIZAMA, et al., Plaintiffs, vs. JOSE. S. RIOS, individually and as Mayor of Saipan, Defendant. JOSE S. RIOS, Third-Party Plaintiff, vs. MARIANAS PUBLIC LAND CORPORATION, et al., Third-Party Defendants. MARIANAS PUBLIC LAND TRUST, Applicant for Intervention.
    CIVIL ACTION NO. 85-0011
   DECISION AND ORDER

Plaintiffs, Juan"T. Lizama and Jesus T. Lizama, filed this action on August 28, 1985, alleging that defendant, Jose S. Rios, individually and as the Mayor of Saipan, was interfering with their right to a certain parcel of real property referred to as'the "Hyatt Lot." . Rios counterclaimed, against the Lizamas and the Marianas Public Land Corporation (MPLC) alleging that the counter-defendants had conspired to deprive Rios and other Northern Marianas descent citizens of their right to be treated fairly in the exchange of public lands in contravention of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. The Lizamas' claim and Rios' counterclaim were brought under 42 U.S.C. §1983. Rios' counterclaim sought to:

1. void all previous MPLC land exchanges including the Hyatt exchange; and
2. require MPLC to promulgate rules and regulations governing future land exchanges.

The counterclaim sought compensatory and punitive damages in the amount of $9,500,0(50 to redress alleged wrongs.

On M-rch 11, 1986, a Stipulation for a Permanent Injunction and Judgment was filed pursuant to which an Order and Judgment of the Court was filed on the same day.

Under the stipulation, MPLC is permanently enjoined from exchanging public lands until rules and regulations are adopted to govern such exchanges. The rules aád regulations will insure that public lands are only exchanged for private lands of equal or greater value. The stipulation also requires that MPLC have public hearings in which the reasonableness of an exchange is considered and that each exchange must be ratified by a board vote. Rios agreed to drop his claims against MPLC. in- exchange for this stipulated Order and Judgment.

Rios now moves for reasonable attorney's fees pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §1988, which states that:

In any action or proceeding to enforce a provision of sectionO. . . 1983. . . of this title. . . the court, may in its discretion, allow the prevailing party, other than the United States, a reasonable attorney's fee as part of the costs.

In support of his motion for attorney's fees, counter-claimant's attorney has presented the Court with his- regular monthly billings to Mr. Rios. These billings include hours spent pursuing the counterclaim against MPLC and the Lizamas as well as his defense against the Lizamas' original complaint. Counter-claimant's attorney informed the Court at a hearing on this matter- that at that time he could not separate the hours spent in pursuing the counterclaim against MPLC from the hours spent pursuing the counterclaim against the Lizamas and defending against their original complaint.

The Court feels that this motion for attorney's fees is premature. Though there are cases supporting the availability of interim attorney's fees the Court believes that interim fees are not appropriate here in light of the fact1 that Rios is still pursuing certain claims against the’Lizamas-as well as defending against the original complaint.’ When .these claims are resolved, counter-claimant's attorney and the Court can better address the issue of attorney's fees.

IT IS SO ORDERED.^

DATED this &emdash; day óf May, 1986

JUDGE ALFRED LAURETA