Experience

CNMI Office of the Attorney General

• Northern Mariana Islands
• Law Practice
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Civil Division Chief

  • Jan 2021 - Present

  * Managed a litigation team of ten attorneys and two paralegals responsible for all civil litigation involving the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and its agencies.* Led office selection of a new case management system, including review and selection of vendor and assisting with scoping.* Reviewed internal litigation policies, recommended changes to those policies as appropriate, and implemented recommended changes.* Interviewed prospective Civil Division attorneys as part of recruitment and hiring process.* Continued to perform all duties of a Civil Division Assistant Attorney General.

• Assistant Attorney General

  • Feb 2020 - Jan 2021

  * Represented Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) through all phases of civil litigation, including pleadings, motion practice, discovery, and hearings.* Drafted and filed pleadings, motions, memoranda, legal opinions, briefs, and discovery requests to advance Commonwealth goals guided by applicable laws and statutes.* Advised Department of Public Lands as general counsel, including condemnation / land compensation, homesteads, information requests, leasing, and litigation issues.* Advised Commonwealth Casino Commission regarding administrative procedure and due process issues associated with regulatory enforcement actions.



American Samoa Government

• American Samoa
• Government Administration
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Assistant Attorney General

  • Oct 2018 - Jan 2020

  • Provided legal consultation and support to various departments, including Commerce, Public Safety (Fire and Police), Public Works, Territorial Planning Commission, Treasury (Tax and Customs), Workmen’s Compensation, and Zoning. • Prepared management for pending litigation and advised department directors concerning emergency and non-emergency factual situations to determine and execute appropriate legal action. • Met with witnesses, took witness statements, gathered evidence, interviewed clients, investigated facts leading to disputes, issued subpoenas, prepared witnesses, and reviewed evidence in preparation for court. • Drafted and filed pleadings, motions, memoranda, legal opinions, briefs, and discovery requests to advance ASG goals guided by applicable laws and statutes. • Prepared for and conducted administrative hearings and trials before the High Court of American Samoa. • Initiated cases before the High Court of American Samoa and acted as lead attorney through all stages of litigation. • Conducted legal research on issues including issues of torts, contracts, civil procedure, appellate, constitutional, tax, commercial, and other areas of law as needed to defend the Territory and its interests. • Developed internal administrative review and appeal procedures for Department of Commerce. • Developed credit and seizure processes for Department of Treasury’s Customs and Excise Division. • Assisted territorial Department of Treasury with anti-fraud measures and escheat process associated with departure of Bank of Hawaii from the territory.



Indiana Tax Court

• United States
• Legal Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Judicial Law Clerk

  • Oct 2016 - Sep 2018

  • Drafted and edited decisions to be issued for publication by the Court, including cases analyzing Indiana’s charitable use exemptions and applicability of “dark box” valuation. • Drafted 2018 Self-Represented Litigant Handbook to clarify Court expectations of pro se litigants. • Researched issues in Indiana civil procedure, constitutional law, and tax law as raised by motions, briefs, pleadings, and other filings with the Court using Westlaw. • Advised the Judge on the current state of Indiana law on questions of civil procedure, constitutional law, and tax law raised by motions, briefs, pleadings, and other filings with the Court. • Provided comments to and consulted with the Judge regarding legislation and rule changes.



Office of the Indiana Attorney General

• United States
• Government Administration
• 200 - 300 Employee

• Deputy Attorney General, Tax Litigation Section

  • May 2011 - Sep 2016

  • Substituted as Section Chief from July 2016 through August 2016, directly supervising 4 attorneys and 2 paralegals.• As substitute Section Chief, reported to Chief Deputy regarding the operations of the Tax Section, progress on significant cases and their expected dispositions, pending issues associated with the Indiana Department of State Revenue.• Prepared Indiana Department of State Revenue management for pending litigation and advised department directors concerning emergency and non-emergency factual situations to determine and execute appropriate legal action.• Advised Indiana Department of State Revenue on the current state of Indiana tax law, the effect of Tax Court decisions on the law, and how best to achieve Departmental goals based on the legal environment. • Litigated more than 100 cases before the Indiana Tax Court and Indiana county probate courts representing the Indiana Department of State Revenue and various county assessors.• Litigated cases through all phases of action, including drafting pleadings, discovery, motions, memoranda, and briefs; negotiating settlements and mediations; oral argument and trials.• Prepared for, prosecuted and defended depositions, including Trial Rule 30(b)(6) and expert depositions.• Negotiated settlement of and represented the Indiana Department of State Revenue in mediations to resolve both assessments and refund claims.• Researched issues in constitutional law, federal tax law, state and local tax (SALT) law, and civil procedure.• Mentored less experienced attorneys of the Section regarding all phases of litigation.

• Law Clerk, Criminal Appeals Section

  • Mar 2011 - Apr 2011

  • Drafted criminal appellee briefs.• Researched common law, statutory, and constitutional issues related to state legal interests in upholding criminal sentences.

• Law Clerk, Solicitor General Division

  • May 2009 - Mar 2011

  • Researched common law, statutory, and constitutional issues related to state legal interests in defending legislation and advancing state policy goals.• Drafted civil appellant, appellee and reply briefs; amicus curiae briefs; petitions for transfer; petitions for certiorari; motions for summary judgment; responses to motions for summary judgment; and other court filings.• Wrote memoranda analyzing possible civil claims to be brought by or against the State for the Solicitor General.



Indiana University

• Bloomington, Indiana Area

• Research Assistant (Professor Sarah Jane Hughes)

  • May 2009 - May 2010

  • Updated Professor Hughes’ contribution to the 2009-2010 & 2010-2011 supplements to Non-UCC Payment Methods, Hawkland’s Uniform Commercial Code Series Vol. 10A. • Provided research and editorial assistance for: - Sarah Jane Hughes, Payments Data Security Breaches and Oil Spills: What Lessons Can Payments Security Learn from the Laws Governing Remediation of the Exxon Valdez, Deepwater Horizon, and Other Oil Spills?, 5 BROOK. J. CORP. & COM. L. 111 (2010). - Sarah Jane Hughes, Federal Payroll, Gift and Prepaid Card Developments: FDIC Deposit Insurance Eligibility and the Credit CARD Act of 2009, 65 BUS. LAW. 261 (2009).



Monroe County Circuit Court

• Bloomington, Indiana Area

• Law Clerk (Hon. E. Michael Hoff & Hon. Frances Hill)

  • May 2008 - Aug 2008

  • Researched legal issues and assisted in preparing court orders and materials for two general jurisdiction judges concerning issues in civil procedure, commercial law, contract law, family law, judgments by the court, property law, tort law, and various issues in small claims court. • Researched legal issues and assisted in preparing court orders and materials for two general jurisdiction judges concerning issues in civil procedure, commercial law, contract law, family law, judgments by the court, property law, tort law, and various issues in small claims court.