IPI expands lawsuit filed against CCC, adds NMI governor to complaint

The troubled operator of a casino in Saipan, Imperial Pacific International (IPI), has expanded a previous lawsuit it filed against the Commonwealth Casino Commission (CCC) to include Arnold I. Palacios, the governor of the Northern Mariana Islands.

The current case requests an exemption from all regulatory expenses and alleges a breach of the Casino License Agreement. In addition, IPI is requesting a court ruling compelling the CCC to reimburse all prior regulatory expenses.

The CCC suspended IPI’s registration in 2021 as a consequence of its failure to pay regulatory fees. This is crucial information for a license revocation hearing that is scheduled for later this month. In the amended complaint, Governor Palacios and CCC officials are named.

Violations of the US and CNMI constitutions’ contract clauses, takings clauses, due process clauses, and breach of the casino license agreement are all alleged, along with unconstitutional contract impairment.

IPI requests an order to stop the Regulatory Fee Act’s implementation, a declaration that the act is unconstitutional, and payment for already incurred regulatory expenses. In addition, the company requests that the court reverse any decisions about unpaid invoices, such as suspending its gaming license. The legal team for the CCC responded by filing a request to dismiss.

Original story by: IAG