A dispute involving land at Laura High School is moving toward a possible trial later this year.
At a hearing Monday this week in the High Court, Judge Anne Bodley set out a schedule for preparations for a trial over the next two months with a hearing to address motions filed by either or both sides now set for May 8.
The case was brought late last year by Crystal Luko Kabua on behalf of Neilan Elbon, the alap and senior dri-jerbal of Wutinoen Weto, where portions of Laura High School are located. The case by filed by attorney Alanso Elbon.
The suit was filed against the Ministry of Culture and Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Education. Attorney General Bernard Adiniwin and Assistant Attorney Maniana Muller are defending the RMI government ministries.
The alap “seeks a declaration that the 2025 lease is invalid as to her client due to lack of consent and signature, and demands compensation for the Government’s unauthorized use of school buildings and other improvements from 2014 to the present,” said the original complaint filed in the High Court last November. “Plaintiff also seeks retroactive adjustment of lease payments to reflect prevailing government rates.”
The complaint states that the RMI lease for the property where LHS is located “expired on March 4, 2014,” and according to the lease, “all improvements made by the Government were to revert to the landowners.”
In January 2025, the government executed a new lease agreement for a portion of the weto with Iroojedik Limua Moses “without the consent or signature of the Alap and Senior Dri-Jerbal,” the lawsuit contends. Alap Neilan said in the complaint that she recognizes Iroojedik Limua’s authority but states that the lease is invalid without the agreement of all the landowners on the land.
Judge Bodley scheduled a series of deadlines for both sides to submit pre-trial motions and responses leading up to the May 8 hearing.