ROUND ONE: VICTORY!
May 24, 2019 Update #3- Judge grants two Advocacy's motions in legal challenge to WDFW's co-management season setting practices.
WDFW's lawyer, Mike Grossman and Twin Harbors Fish and Wildlife Advocacy (THFWA) attorney Joe Frawley went before the Honorable Erik Price in Thurston County Superior Court today. This was round one in the lawsuits filed over the alleged violations of the Open Public Meetings Act and The Administrative Procedures Act against WDFW.
THFWA asked the court to combine Mr. West's lawsuit and theirs, since both have been assigned to Judge Price. WDFW opposed them combining and petitioned the court to dismiss Mr. West's lawsuit entirely.
Here is the release from THFWA with the results of today's hearing:
"In the first round in Thurston County Superior Court, Judge Price heard two motions filed by the Advocacy. Joe Frawley appeared for the Advocacy and AAG Michael Grossman argued for WDFW. WDFW opposed both motions.
The first motion was to consolidate the Advocacy case with a private citizen complaint (West) filed just prior to the Advocacy filing its petition. The Judge granted the Advocacy's motion to consolidate.
The second motion from the Advocacy was to continue a motion filed by WDFW asking the court to dismiss the West case. The Judge granted the Advocacy's motion which stands down the efforts of WDFW to get the West case thrown out while allowing an opening for WDFW to refile in the future.
The Judge further set up a schedule for conferences, etc. to start the process down the procedural path to trial.
Advocacy President Tim Hamilton summed it up this way. "While its a long playoff, it's nice to start a series 2-0 versus the opposition."
We agree with Tim Hamilton, it's nice to have a win for the citizen sportsmen! We're thankful for all the hard work that THFWA is putting into this fight!
WE, all of us Washington Citizen Sportsmen, cannot sit idly by. WE MUST CONTINUE TO DO OUR PART! Get out there, educate fellow citizens, make calls, post on social media, GET OTHERS INVOLVED IN OUR FIGHT.
AND MAKE A DONATION TO THE THFWA LEGAL FUND!
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