Imperial Pacific International (IPI) LLC, a gaming operator in Saipan, is currently entangled in a multifaceted legal dispute with the CNMI government and multiple officials.
A crucial hearing is scheduled for July 25th, 2024, during which a motion to dismiss the entire case will be considered.
The dispute revolves around actions taken by the Commonwealth Casino Commission (CCC) to enforce penalties, including substantial fines and license suspensions against Imperial Pacific International (IPI).
On June 11th, 2024, the CCC, along with board chair Edward C. Deleon Guerrero, vice chair Rafael S. Demapan, and board member Mariano Taitano, filed a memorandum in support of their motion to dismiss IPI’s First Amended Complaint under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(1).
The 20-page motion argues that the court lacks subject-matter jurisdiction, citing precedent from District of Columbia Court of Appeals v. Feldman (1983), and contends that IPI has not established a genuine “case or controversy” under Article III of the US Constitution.
Since 2020, IPI has faced multiple enforcement actions by the CCC, citing various breaches of the Casino License Agreement. These include allegations of non-payment of contributions to the Community Benefit Fund, the annual license fee, and failure to maintain necessary cash reserves. The CCC’s actions culminated on April 22nd, 2021, when IPI’s casino gaming license was suspended and penalties amounting to $5 million were imposed.
Additionally, IPI, a Hong Kong-listed company, officially had its listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX) canceled on June 17th at 9am due to the company no longer aligning with Listing Rules.
