PRESS ADVISORY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For More Information Contact:
Lisa Mayo-DeRiso | [email protected] | (702) 403-7779
Grassroots Conservation Group files Anti-SLAPP Motion and Counterclaim for Abuse of Process Against Clark County
Las Vegas, NV. (Jan 10, 2017) – Save Red Rock (SRR) filed an anti-SLAPP Motion to Dismiss and a counterclaim for abuse of process Monday in state court in the ongoing legal battle initiated by Clark County against SRR, a grassroots conservation organization that has worked for over a decade to protect the rural, recreational and scenic nature of Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area (RRCNCA).
Clark County filed a taxpayer-funded Complaint against SRR seeking, amongst other things, to bar Save Red Rock and the public from raising concerns at Clark County Commission meetings regarding a proposal by developer Jim Rhodes’ Gypsum Resources LLC’s (Gypsum) to build more than 5,000 homes surrounded by the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. On December 30, 2016, before SRR even had a chance to respond to the Complaint, Clark County also filed a Motion for Partial Summary Judgment. “It is clear that Clark County has an aggressive strategy to silence and intimidate Save Red Rock,” said attorney Justin Jones. “But Save Red Rock will not be intimidated by the County or Gypsum from speaking out against unwise sprawl development in Red Rock Canyon.”
In the motion filed today, SRR alleges that Clark County’s lawsuit seeks to prevent SRR from making “good faith communications” regarding Gypsum’s proposed development before the County Commission. The motion seeks dismissal under Nevada’s anti-SLAPP statute and recovery of its attorney’s fees and costs.
In its lawsuit, Clark County alleges that SRR’s appearances at 2011 public hearings before the Clark County Commissioners where the group voiced its opposition to a Rhodes development proposal prohibits SRR and the public from raising similar concerns regarding Gypsum’s new plan to build Southern Nevada’s third largest city in Red Rock Canyon. SRR has actively opposed previous proposals to build thousands of homes in Red Rock Canyon, with hundreds of activists speaking out at public meetings over the years.
The aggressive legal action against SRR has surprised both SRR members and the community.
“It baffles me why Clark County would sue its own constituents for speaking out during the public hearing process on an important land use decision,” said Heather Fisher, SRR president and co-owner of two small businesses in Las Vegas. “Instead of suing grassroots groups like Save Red Rock, Clark County should be actively looking for ways to maintain the rural character of Red Rock Canyon for future generations.”
“Taxpayer dollars are being spent to sue an advocacy group that speaks for thousands of people who want to protect Red Rock Canyon. Land use and zoning decisions are meant to be heard in the public forum by the Clark County Commissioners, not decided preemptively by a judge,” said Jones.
SRR encourages individuals in opposition to the proposed rezoning to sign Save Red Rock’s petition by visiting SaveRedRock.com. SRR’s petition currently has nearly 29,000 signatures from people in Clark County and around the world.
About Save Red Rock
Save Red Rock is a group of concerned citizens working to preserve the safety, serenity, and scenic nature of Red Rock Canyon. For more information visit SaveRedRock.com or connect with Save Red Rock on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
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