Ruling changes politics of southern water dispute
Court Alerts
Metro Atlanta started the week under the threat of a court order that could have shut off its main water source for 3 million people, making Georgia the needy neighbor in legal negotiations with neighboring Alabama and Florida.
It ends the week holding some of the best cards at the table.
A ruling Tuesday from a three-judge panel on the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals struck down an lower court order that would have severely curtailed Atlanta's access to water from Lake Lanier on the Chattahoochee River starting in July 2012 unless the three states struck a deal.
Then the appeals court went even further, saying that Georgia has a legal right to water from the lake.
Those involved in the dispute say the ruling fundamentally strengthens Georgia's hand in the long-running fight with its neighbors over how much water metro Atlanta can take from a watershed serving all three states. Georgia officials have been negotiating under the gun for the last two years because of the looming water cutoff.
"We're in a better position because the court has now removed the 2012 deadline," said Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal, who said he still wants to negotiate a final agreement. Alabama has already said it will appeal the ruling to the full court, while Florida Gov. Rick Scott's office was still reviewing it Wednesday.
Related listings
-
Court won't revive Clemens lawsuit against trainer
Court Alerts 06/28/2011The Supreme Court won't revive baseball star Roger Clemens' lawsuit against his former personal trainer for claiming he injected the pitcher with steroids and human growth hormones.The high court on Tuesday refused to hear an appeal from the seven-ti...
-
Supreme Court to review warrantless GPS tracking
Court Alerts 06/27/2011The Supreme Court will weigh in on an important privacy issue for the digital age: whether the police need a warrant before using a global positioning system device to track a suspect's movements. The justices said Monday they will hear the Obama adm...
-
Court docs say Clayton Co. daycare worker lied about child death
Court Alerts 06/26/2011Court documents indicate a Clayton County day care operator and a staffer falsified records involving the death of 2-year-old Jazmin Green. Green died Monday after being left in a hot van outside Marlo's Magnificent Early Learning Center in Jonesboro...
New York Commercial Litigation Law Firm - Woods Lonergan PLLC
Founded in 1993 by Managing Partner James F. Woods, Woods Lonergan PLLC has built a strong reputation as a resourceful and industrious firm that provides clients with clear, concise, and straightforward answers to their most challenging legal issues. Partner Lawrence R. Lonergan, who joined the firm in 2008, has been a friend and colleague to Mr. Woods for over 40 years and shares the same business philosophy. Woods Lonergan PLLC’s collective experience and expertise enables the firm to expeditiously and effectively analyze the increasing challenges clients face in an evolving business and legal world, in many instances, avoiding unnecessary time and expense to our clients. Our mission is simple: provide cutting-edge expertise and sound advice in select areas of the law for corporate and business clients. We thrive on providing each client with personalized attention, forceful representation, and a collaborative team effort that embraces collective knowledge.