Mariana Islands: Court Allows Amended Complaint in Second Amendment Lawsuit by Murphy

DISTRICT Court for the Northern Mariana Islands Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona yesterday denied as moot the commonwealth government’s motion to dismiss another lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the local Weapons Control Act.

On March 3, 2015, the federal court gave plaintiff former U.S. Army Ranger Paul Michael Murphy, 32, a Kagman resident, additional time to respond to the CNMI government’s motion to dismiss which the latter had filed on Jan. 20.

The next day, Murphy submitted an amended complaint.

Because more than 21 days have passed since the motion to dismiss was filed, Murphy needs the federal court or the CNMI government’s permission to amend his pleading, according to the federal court.

“The amended complaint substantially revises the original pleading, adds counts, and appears to be a good-faith attempt to fix the problems that the CNMI government identified in its motion. Therefore, the court will allow Murphy to amend his complaint. Murphy is now on notice, however, that he must ask permission before filing any further amendments,” according to Judge Manglona.

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