DA files legal brief concerning Bainbridge monkey facility, residents still fighting back

BAINBRIDGE, Ga. (WALB) - The Decatur County District Attorney has filed a legal brief concerning the legalities around the monkey facility.

In the legal documents, it states, “the trial court should be reversed, and the Validation Order should be vacated for four primary reasons”. He lists four primary reasons why:

• The trial court erred by issuing the Validation Order because the Revenue Bond Law procedures were not satisfied.
• The trial court erroneously validated the bonds because the hearing was not properly noticed, and the statutory requirements for waiving the performance audit and review requirements of O.C.G.A. § 36-82-100 were not met.
• The trial court erroneously held that the Rental Agreement between the Authority and SHM creates a bailment for hire.
• The trial court erroneously ordered and adjudged that the primates to be bred at the Project are subject to a Freeport Exemption under O.C.G.A. § 48-5-48.2.

Overall he says there is a " plain error in this case.” Lisa Dasilva, a concerned resident who is also suing city and county leaders, said the recent filing gives her allthe more reason to fight.

“We trust our government. We trust them to be making good decisions on the citizen’s behalf and nobody ever suspected that something this controversial would get slipped through,” she said. “We’re optimistic that the law is not on Safer Human Medicine’s side and we’re hoping to prove that.

Safer Human Medicine has 10 days to respond to this legal brief and they tell me they still have every intention of moving this project forward.

Full appeal document

Previous Coverage:

• Decision on Bainbridge monkey facility left up to courts
• Bainbridge residents file legal complaint against city, county agencies for violating Open Meetings Act
• UPDATE: Bainbridge Decatur Co. Development Authority cited for monkey facility land disturbance
• NEW DETAILS: Decatur Co. commissioners vote to take back support from monkey breeding facility project
• ‘This is an important project’: Bainbridge monkey facility officials address concerns
• Bainbridge monkey facility hits legal snag
• UPDATE: Bainbridge residents and PETA bring concerns about primate facility to city leaders
• New Bainbridge animal husbandry facility expected to bring over 200 jobs

Have a news tip or see an error that needs correction? Let us know. Please include the article’s headline in your message.

To stay up to date on all the latest news as it develops, follow WALB on Facebook and X (Twitter). For more South Georgia news, download the WALB News app from the Apple Store or Google Play.

Copyright 2024 WALB. All rights reserved.