Sigrah v Kosrae State Land Commission [2002] FMKSC 31; 11 FSM Intrm. 169 (Kos. S. Ct. Tr. 2002) (30 September 2002)

KOSRAE STATE COURT
TRIAL DIVISION
Cite as Sigrah v. Kosrae State Land Commission, 11 FSM Intrm. 169 (Kos. S. Ct. Tr. 2002)

[11 FSM Intrm. 169]

JOAB P. SIGRAH et al.,
Plaintiffs,

vs.

KOSRAE STATE LAND COMMISSION, STATE
OF KOSRAE, SELESTIN S. LIKIAKSA, et al.,
Defendants.

CIVIL ACTION NO. 22-01

ORDERS

Aliksa B. Aliksa
Associate Justice

Decided: September 30, 2002

APPEARANCES:

For the Plaintiffs:
Akiyusi Palsis, trial counselor
P.O. Box 224
Lelu, Kosrae FM 96944

For the Defendants (Land Comm’n & State):
Edward Buckingham, Esq.
Assistant Attorney General
Office of the Kosrae Attorney General
P.O. Box 870
Lelu, Kosrae FM 96944

For the Defendants:
Clanry Likiaksa, trial counselor
P.O. Box 764
Lelu, Kosrae FM 96944

* * * *

HEADNOTES

Civil Procedure - Default and Default Judgments; Civil Procedure - Summary Judgment
Default, under Rule 55, is typically granted when a defendant has failed to answer or respond to a complaint within the prescribed time limit. A default judgment under Rule 55 will not be granted for the plaintiff’s failure to timely respond to a summary judgment motion. Sigrah v. Kosrae State Land Comm’n, 11 FSM Intrm. 169, 171 (Kos. S. Ct. Tr. 2002).

Civil Procedure - Summary Judgment
Summary judgment must be granted if the pleadings, discovery responses under oath, and affidavits show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law. In considering a summary judgment motion, the court must

[11 FSM Intrm. 170]

view the facts and inferences in a light that is most favorable to the party opposing the motion. Sigrah v. Kosrae State Land Comm’n, 11 FSM Intrm. 169, 171 (Kos. S. Ct. Tr. 2002).

Civil Procedure - Res Judicata; Transition of Authority
A Kosrae district Trust Territory High Court judgment in a trespass action will not be set aside as invalid because it was in a designated land registration area when the registration area designation was not filed in the Kosrae district High Court and the prevailing defendants did not ask that title be issued to them, but only that the complaint be dismissed. Sigrah v. Kosrae State Land Comm’n, 11 FSM Intrm. 169, 172-73 (Kos. S. Ct. Tr. 2002).

Civil Procedure - Res Judicata; Transition of Authority