Islas Marianas del Norte: Demandando a una persona agresora por daños

You may have the right to seek justice from the abuser through the civil court system. If a person is injured by someone else, the victim can sue the abuser for “damages.” This means money for things like:

• medical bills;
• lost wages or employment; 
• physical and emotional pain and suffering; and
• in some cases, to punish the abuser.

Each state or territory has its own laws on civil lawsuits, but they are mostly similar when it comes to injuries from abuse.

One thing to know is that there are time limits for bringing lawsuits, called “statutes of limitations.” You may want to ask a CNMI lawyer about any statutes of limitations that apply in your situation.  

To file a civil lawsuit against an abuser, you will most likely need the help of a lawyer. Some lawyers take cases like this for a “contingency fee.” This means the lawyer doesn’t get paid unless you win in court. Then s/he takes some percentage of whatever damages the judge awards you. Sometimes the judge will order the abuser (defendant) to pay for your attorney’s fees.

If you need help finding a lawyer who can take your case for a contingency fee, you can contact the National Crime Victim Bar Association. They may be able to refer you to lawyers in the CNMI who represent crime victims in lawsuits against abusers. (WomensLaw.org is unrelated to this organization.)

If your damages are below a certain amount, you may be able to file a claim on your own in small claims court. Small claims court is a less formal type of court, and many people can go to small claims court without a lawyer.

In the CNMI small claims court, you can file a claim for an amount of $5,000 or less. If you want to sue for more, you will have to file in regular superior court, and then you may need the help of a lawyer. Also, in small claims court, you cannot get damages for pain or suffering or to punish the abuser (“punitive damages”).¹

Visit the Northern Mariana Islands Judiciary website for links to the small claims court forms.

You may also ask the court clerk for help filing a small claims case and the clerk will guide you through filing your claim and serving the offender.

¹ See Sabio v. Cruz, 17-12-14-SC17-0320