Saipan, CNMI – On August 10th, 2023, the Supreme Court issued its opinion affirming a trial court decision dismissing the case of Department of Public Lands v. Blas. The defendant asked the trial court to dismiss the case after the Department of Public Lands failed to move the case forward for an extended period, and the trial court granted the defendant’s request.
In affirming the decision, the Supreme Court found that the trial court did not abuse its discretion by dismissing the case. The Court considered several factors, including the fact that the delay was so long that several key witnesses had passed away. The dismissal was made without prejudice, meaning the Department of Public Lands could bring the case again if it desired.
This press release constitutes no part of the decision of the Court. It has been prepared by court staff for the convenience of the public. The full decision is available at https://cnmilaw.org/spm23.php#gsc.tab=0
