Concepcion S. Wabol v. Victorino U. Villacrusis Philippine Goods, Inc. Transamerica Corp.

Victorino Villacrusis, Philippine Goods, Inc., and Transamerica Corporation (collectively PGI) appeal from the order of the Supreme Court of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI Supreme Court) asserting jurisdiction over an appeal pending before this court, Wabol v. Villacrusis, 898 F.2d 1381 (9th Cir.), as amended, 908 F.2d 411 (9th Cir.1990), as amended, 958 F.2d 1450 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, — U.S. -, 113 S.Ct. 675 , 121 L.Ed.2d 598 (1992), (hereinafter Wabol I). PGI contends that the CNMI Supreme Court lacks jurisdiction over this matter. We reverse because we conclude that pursuant to our decision in Wabol I, the CNMI Supreme Court lacked jurisdiction to review the judgment of the Appellate Division of the District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands (Appellate Division).

I.

PROCEDURAL HISTORY

In 1978, Victorino Villacrusis and Philippine Goods, Inc. entered into a lease agreement with Filomena Wabol Muna, with the approval of Concepcion S. Wabol and Elias S. Wabol, for a 30-year term with an unconditional option in lessee PGI to renew for 20 additional years. Wabol I, 958 F.2d at 1451-1452 . After a period of seven years, Concepcion S. Wabol and…