Cite as Etscheit v. Amaraich, 14 FSM Intrm. 597 (App. 2007)

CASE NO. P1-2006

Civil Action No. 2005-011

Civil Action No. 2005-016

Decided:  April 23, 2007

Hon. Martin G. Yinug, Associate Justice, FSM Supreme Court

Hon. Dennis K. Yamase, Associate Justice, FSM Supreme Court

     The FSM Supreme Court has inherent constitutional power to issue all writs, including writs of mandamus and writs of prohibition. The extraordinary writ of mandamus is used to compel public officials to perform a duty ministerial in nature and not subject to the official’s own discretion while the extraordinary writ of prohibition is used to prevent a trial court from exceeding its jurisdiction and exercising unauthorized judicial or quasi-judicial power. The writs of mandamus and prohibition are similar in that the former commands the trial court to do something, while the latter commands the trial court not to do something. Etscheit v. Amaraich, 14 FSM Intrm. 597, 600 (App. 2007).

     A writ of mandamus or prohibition is an extraordinary remedy, the object of which is not to cure a mere legal error or to serve as a substitute for appeal, but to require an official to carry out a clear, nondiscretionary duty. Such a writ may only force a ministerial act or prevent a clear abuse of power and cannot be used to test or overrule a judge’s exercise of discretion. Mere legal error by a judge, even gross legal error in a particular case, as distinguished from a calculated and repeated disregard of governing rules, does not suffice to support the issuance of a writ of mandamus or prohibition. The issuance of writs is discretionary and must be used with great caution. Etscheit v. Amaraich, 14 FSM Intrm. 597, 600 (App. 2007).

     Only under special circumstances that render the matter rare and exceptional should the FSM Supreme Court appellate division issue a writ of mandamus or prohibition to alter a trial judge’s conduct before the trial court has completed the proceedings and reached a final decision. The finality requirement and its underlying rationale mandate appellate court restraint, and preclude issuance of writs of mandamus and prohibition on an interlocutory basis, except in those rare and exceptional circumstances when the precise requirements for issuance of the writ are met and the appellate court, in its discretion, determines that immediate relief is necessitated. Etscheit v. Amaraich, 14 FSM Intrm. 597, 600 (App. 2007).

     The FSM Supreme Court’s exercise of its power to issue writs of mandamus and prohibition

must be tempered by sober judgment, since such writs are extraordinary remedies. The determination whether to grant a writ of mandamus or prohibition involves the court’s full recognition of the extraordinary nature of the relief requested. Though the power is curative, it is strong medicine and its use must be restricted to the most serious and critical ills. Etscheit v. Amaraich, 14 FSM Intrm. 597, 600 (App. 2007).

     The five elements that must be present in order for the FSM Supreme Court to exercise its discretion to issue a writ of mandamus or prohibition are: 1) the respondent must be a judicial or other public officer; 2) the act to be compelled must be non-discretionary or ministerial; 3) the respondent must have a clear legal duty to perform the act; 4) the respondent must have failed or refused to perform the act; and 5) there must be no other adequate legal remedy available. Each of these five elements must be satisfied. Etscheit v. Amaraich, 14 FSM Intrm. 597, 600 (App. 2007).

     The party seeking a writ of mandamus has the burden of showing that its right to issuance of the writ is clear and indisputable. Since a prerequisite to the issuance of a writ of mandamus or prohibition is the existence of a clear duty that is being violated by the trial court, no writ will issue when the petitioner has not established that the trial court had any duty, much less a clear duty. Etscheit v. Amaraich, 14 FSM Intrm. 597, 600 (App. 2007).

     Since a trial court’s decision to disqualify an attorney from participation in a given case is a decision falling within a trial court’s inherent discretionary powers, and since a petition for a writ of mandamus fails when it seeks appellate review that is explicitly beyond the curative parameters of mandamus or prohibition, the petition will be denied. The trial court had no legal duty to admit an attorney in the case, since the challenged disqualification was wholly within the trial court’s discretion. Etscheit v. Amaraich, 14 FSM Intrm. 597, 601 (App. 2007).

      An attempt to use a petition for writ of prohibition or mandamus to obtain a peremptory disqualification of an attorney not presently involved in the case is misplaced because, given the nature of the remedy of mandamus and prohibition and the caution exercised in affording it, the right sought to be enforced must be clear and certain. There must be an immediate right to have the act in question performed, and such right must be specific, well defined, and complete, so as not to admit of any reasonable controversy. As such, mandamus or prohibition relief cannot be used as a precaution against future events that may never occur. Etscheit v. Amaraich, 14 FSM Intrm. 597, 601 n.1 (App. 2007).

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      This matter is currently pending in the trial division in Pohnpei. On April 25, 2006, the trial court issued an interlocutory order disqualifying Daniel Berman, Michael Sipos, and their law firms from representing Petitioners in this action. On May 23, 2006, Petitioners filed a Petition for Writ of Mandamus or, in the alternative, Writ of Prohibition requesting this Court to reverse the trial court’s

order disqualifying Daniel Berman and order the trial court to reinstate him as counsel for Petitioners. Respondents and Real Parties In Interest Tim and Erine McVey et al., have answered this Petition. Petitioners also moved this Court to stay proceedings in the trial court until the Petition for Writ is adjudicated.

      The FSM Supreme Court has inherent constitutional power to issue all writs, including writs of mandamus and writs of prohibition. FSM App. R. 21(a); Nix v. Ehmes, 1 FSM Intrm. 114, 118 (Pon. 1982). The extraordinary writ of mandamus is used to compel public officials to perform a duty ministerial in nature and not subject to the official’s own discretion, id., while the extraordinary writ of prohibition is used to prevent a trial court from exceeding its jurisdiction and exercising unauthorized judicial or quasi-judicial power. Election Comm’r v. Petewon, 6 FSM Intrm. 491, 497 (Chk. S. Ct. App. 1994). The writs of mandamus and prohibition are similar in that the former commands the trial court to do something, while the latter commands the trial court not to do something. Damarlane v. Pohnpei Supreme Court Appellate Division, 10 FSM Intrm. 116, 120 (Pon. 2001).

       A writ of mandamus or prohibition is an extraordinary remedy, the object of which is not to cure a mere legal error or to serve as a substitution for appeal, but to require an official to carry out a clear, nondiscretionary duty. Senda v. Trial Division, 6 FSM Intrm. 336, 338 (App. 1994). Such a writ may only force a ministerial act or prevent a clear abuse of power and cannot be used to test or overrule a judge’s exercise of discretion. Id. Mere legal error by a judge, even gross legal error in a particular case, as distinguished from a calculated and repeated disregard of governing rules, does not suffice to support the issuance of a writ of mandamus or prohibition. Id. The issuance of writs is discretionary and must be used with great caution. Petewon, 6 FSM Intrm. at 497.

      Only under special circumstances that render the matter rare and exceptional should the appellate division of the FSM Supreme Court issue a writ of mandamus or prohibition to alter the conduct of a trial judge before the trial court has completed the proceedings and reached a final decision. In re Raitoun, 1 FSM Intrm. 561, 562-63 (App. 1984). The finality requirement and its underlying rationale mandate appellate court restraint, and preclude issuance of writs of mandamus and prohibition on an interlocutory basis, except in those rare and exceptional circumstances when the precise requirements for issuance of the writ are met and the appellate court, in its discretion, determines that immediate relief is necessitated. In re Main, 4 FSM Intrm. 255, 257-258 (App. 1990). The FSM Supreme Court’s exercise of its power to issue writs of mandamus and prohibition must be tempered by sober judgment, since it is settled beyond controversy that such writs are extraordinary remedies. Damarlane v. Santos, 6 FSM Intrm. 45, 46 (Pon. 1993). The determination whether to grant a writ of mandamus or prohibition involves the court’s full recognition of the extraordinary nature of the relief requested. Federated Shipping Co. v. Trial Division, 9 FSM Intrm. 270, 272-73 (App. 1999). Though the power is curative, it is strong medicine and its use must be restricted to the most serious and critical ills. Id.

      The five elements that must be present in order for this Court to exercise its discretion to issue a writ of mandamus or prohibition are: 1)   the respondent must be a judicial or other public officer; 2)   the act to be compelled must be non-discretionary or ministerial; 3)   the respondent must have a clear legal duty to perform the act; 4)   the respondent must have failed or refused to perform the act; and 5) there must be no other adequate legal remedy available. Talley v. Timothy, 10 FSM Intrm. 528, 530 (Kos. S. Ct. Tr. 2002). Each of these five elements must be satisfied. Id. The party seeking a writ of mandamus has the burden of showing that its right to issuance of the writ is clear and indisputable. Senda, 6 FSM Intrm. at 338. Since a prerequisite to the issuance of a writ of mandamus or prohibition is the existence of a clear duty that is being violated by the trial court, no writ will issue when the petitioner has not established that the trial court had any duty, much less a clear duty. Gimnang v. Trial

Division, 6 FSM Intrm. 482, 485 (App. 1994).

      The Trial Court’s Disqualification of Petitioners’ Counsel is Discretionary and not Subject to, Alteration by Writ of Mandamus of Prohibition.

      A trial court’s decision to disqualify an attorney from participation in a given case is a decision falling within a trial court’s inherent discretionary powers. FSM v. Wainit, 12 FSM Intrm. 172, 177 (Chk. 2003); Office of the Public Defender v. FSM Supreme Court, 4 FSM Intrm. 307, 309 (App. 1990). The Petition fails, for it seeks appellate review that is explicitly beyond the curative parameters of mandamus or prohibition. The trial court had no legal duty to admit Attorney Berman in this case, since the challenged disqualification was wholly within the trial court’s discretion. Accordingly, the second and third requirement for issuance of a writ of mandamus or prohibition as specified in Talley are not met. The Petition is therefore denied.

      This Court recognizes that Respondents have been able to find and retain replacement counsel subsequent to the trial court’s order. Conversely, it is this Court’s understanding that Petitioners have sought but have been unable to retain replacement counsel. In light of this current inequity, and to protect against any undue prejudice to Petitioners, the Court, pursuant to FSM Civil Rule 62(g), orders a stay of all trial court proceedings in this matter until replacement counsel has entered an appearance on behalf of Petitioners.

      The Petition for Writ fails to satisfy the five requirements for this Court to issue a writ of mandamus or prohibition. The trial court’s disqualification of Petitioners’ counsel was a discretionary decision not subject to alteration by a writ of mandamus or prohibition. Accordingly, the Petition for Writ of Mandamus or, in the alternative, Writ of Prohibition is hereby denied. All proceedings in the trial court in this matter are stayed until replacement counsel enters an appearance on behalf of Petitioners.