Imperial Pacific International (CNMI) LLC (“IPI”) appreciates the opportunity your organization has offered for us to respond.  As you may know, the plaintiffs first sued over a year ago the companies (“Gold Mantis” and M.C.C.”) who employed them, and that these companies were also the contractors on the Imperial Pacific International (CNMI) LLC (“Imperial Pacific’s”) Hotel-Casino-Resort construction project.  Imperial Pacific was subsequently included as an additional party in the plaintiff’s First Amended Complaint this year.  Because this case involves active litigation, I have advised Imperial Pacific against responding with any further detail to the media and other parties.  Please note that that Imperial Pacific both supports and strives to comply with all federal and local labor and safety laws and regulations aimed at protecting workers from harm and safeguarding their rights, including expecting our contractors to be compliant with these same laws and regulations, and Imperial Pacific will vigorously defend itself in this case.