Environmental Advocates Stand Up for Free Speech
The Guardians of Martin County recently joined with Environmental Advocate Nathaniel Reed in a local First Amendment rights case that is generating State and National attention.
Maggy Hurchalla
In separate motions, the Guardians and Mr. Reed asked permission from the Appeals Court to file friend-of-the-court (amicus) briefs in support of former Martin County Commissioner Maggy Hurchalla.
The case involves the Lake Point project, which Ms. Hurchalla questioned in email communications with Martin County Commissioners. Ms. Hurchalla expressed her belief that the rock mining operation might cause harm to the environment.
Ms. Hurchalla was expressing her First Amendment right to free speech. Even so, a jury ruled against her and ordered her to pay a whopping $4.3 million dollars.
The case is now under review by the Fourth District Court of Appeal.
“The governmental denial of any project always causes economic loss to the applicant. But the idea that an individual citizen or citizen’s group who participates in this Government vetting of a project can be financially bankrupted in a Florida Trial Court simply can’t be supported,” the Guardians’ motion says.
Nathaniel Reed
Mr. Reed was singled out by Lake Point’s attorneys in legal motions attacking the credibility of certain deposition statements he made. Those motions contained misrepresentations and mischaracterizations of what he said, and Mr. Reed’s motion today cites the targeting as a foundation for his request to file an amicus brief.
“He is a victim of the witness harassment, intimidation and punishment used by Lake Point and its lawyer,” Mr. Reed’s motion says.
Both Ms. Hurchalla and Mr. Reed serve on the Guardians Advisory Board.
A number of other local, state and national advocacy groups are also planning to file briefs in support of Ms. Hurchalla.