By Joshua Solomon, Treasure Coast Newspapers Published 2/18/20
On Tuesday, February 18, 2020, the Indian River County (IRC) Commission reversed an earlier decision and voted 5-0 to appeal their
Brightline Train Heading North Through Deerfield Beach
Federal case to the U.S. Supreme Court.
The $200,000 necessary to file the appeal with a highly experienced law firm will be paid by private citizens. If the case is accepted by the Supreme Court, IRC will pay the $400,000 in legal fees.
“Its aim is to short-circuit funding for the $4.1 billion passenger railroad. Tax-exempt private-activity bonds account for $2.7 billion of the project cost.
“To all those people who think it was a done deal, which it never has been, this reaffirms it was never a done deal,” Commissioner Bob Solari said Tuesday.
The county has spent $3.5 million on litigation with Virgin Trains, including other cases over other safety issues, and could spend close to $4 million to prepare legal briefs if the high court hears this case. “
Read the story HERE