The Superior Court of Guam has issued a decision in the case of Fisher v. Taitague, ruling that the dispute regarding alleged Sunshine Act violations by Senator Telo Taitague is moot. 

The ruling comes after former Senator Thomas Fisher filed a writ, claiming that Senator Taitague had failed to comply with transparency laws.

The court found that the documents Fisher sought had already been provided, rendering the case moot. However, Fisher maintains that the ruling reinforces the accountability mechanisms of the Sunshine Act and that violations, even if resolved, can carry consequences, including fines, recovery of costs, and potential criminal charges.

 In response to the court’s decision, Fisher said:

"This decision affirms the fundamental principles of open government and transparency that the Sunshine Act seeks to protect. I remain committed to ensuring that these principles are upheld for the benefit of our community and will vigorously pursue punishment, including referring the matter to the Office of the Attorney General for criminal prosecution.”

On the other hand, Senator Taitague celebrated the ruling as a victory, stating that Fisher’s case ultimately failed. The court noted Fisher’s lack of standing to bring the suit as a senator, confirming it was pursued in his personal capacity, raising concerns about the use of public funds.

In a statement, Senator Taitague said:

"Mr. Fisher spent a lot of the people’s time addressing his own personal issues in court rather than working on behalf of the People of Guam in the Legislature. If Mr. Fisher does not reimburse the public for attorneys’ fees wasted on the writ brought in his personal capacity, I will speak to my colleagues about addressing Mr. Fisher’s improper use of public funds. I look forward to moving forward and focusing on the people’s business in this new legislative term.”