Terms Used In 5 Guam Code Ann. § 5485

  • Answer: The formal written statement by a defendant responding to a civil complaint and setting forth the grounds for defense.
  • Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
  • Docket: A log containing brief entries of court proceedings.
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Litigation: A case, controversy, or lawsuit. Participants (plaintiffs and defendants) in lawsuits are called litigants.
  • Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
(a) On complaint by any member of the public, the Superior Court has jurisdiction to enjoin a governmental body from withholding procurement data and to order the production of any government data improperly withheld from the complainant. In such a case, the court shall determine the matter de novo, and may examine the contents of such procurement data in camera to determine whether such records or any part thereof shall be withheld under any of the exceptions set forth in 6 Guam Code Ann. § 4202 and the burden is on the agency to sustain its action.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the government or a governmental body shall serve an answer or otherwise plead to any complaint made under this Section within thirty (3) days after service of the pleading in which such complaint is made, unless the court otherwise directs, for good cause shown.

(c) Except as to cases the court considers of greater importance, proceedings as authorized by this Section, and appeals therefrom, take precedence on the docket over all cases and shall be assigned for hearing and trial or for argument at the earliest practicable date and expedited in every way.

(d) The court may assess against the government or governmental body reasonable attorney fees and other litigation costs reasonably incurred in any case under this Section in which the complainant has substantially prevailed.

(e) Whenever the court orders the production of any procurement data improperly withheld from the complainant and assesses against the government or governmental body reasonable attorney fees and other litigation costs, and the court additionally issues a written finding that the circumstances surrounding the withholding raise questions whether government personnel acted arbitrarily or capriciously with respect to the withholding, apart from

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such other actions as the Court may take, the Civil Service Commission shall promptly initiate a proceeding to determine whether disciplinary action is warranted against the officer or employee who was primarily responsible for the withholding. The Commission, after investigation and consideration of the evidence submitted, shall submit its findings to the administrative authority of the agency concerned and shall send copies of the findings and recommendations to the officer of employee or his representative. The administrative authority shall take the corrective action that the Commission recommends. No right or power granted to the Civil Service Commission shall bar or preclude the Court from issuing such orders, imposing such sanctions or providing such remedy or relief as it deems proper.

(f) In the event of noncompliance with the order of the Court, the Superior Court may punish for contempt, the responsible employees or officer.

SOURCE: GC § 6978.2 added by P.L. 18-044:27 (Nov. 14, 1986).

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ARTICLE 10
COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS

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