CNMI opposes legal fees award in gun case

12:27 pm on 21 April 2016
Gun

Gun Photo: 123RF

The Northern Marianas government is questioning whether it owes over $US100,000 dollars in legal expenses, following a successful challenge to its 40-year old handgun law.

Last month, a court ruled that the Weapons Control Act, which essentially banned handguns in the CNMI , was unconstitutional and decided in favour of US Navy veteran David J. Radich and his wife.

The Radich couple then requested that its fees and expenses be covered.

However the CNMI Attorney General Edward Manibusan formally opposed the request, saying the fees could not reasonably be billed to a private client.

Mr Manibusan said the couple also failed to provide the court with evidence of the prevailing market rates in the CNMI.