The Covington News received the following OP-ED from the board members of the JDA.

In recent weeks, there has been confusion surrounding the decision by the Joint Development Authority (JDA) and the State of Georgia to seek recovery of attorney’s fees from six individuals who filed multiple meritless lawsuits to stop the Rivian project. We want to clarify that this is not an attempt to stifle free speech, but a necessary step to recover taxpayer dollars spent defending a legal and critically important project for our region.

The JDA and State are not seeking fees for all seven lawsuits filed; only for two specific lawsuits that were especially meritless. After these lawsuits were repeatedly rejected by the courts—including the Superior Courts of Morgan and Fulton Counties, the Georgia Court of Appeals, and the Georgia Supreme Court—the State and JDA were left with no choice but to seek recovery of the costs.

The lawsuits had no merit: In 2022, Judge Bradley ruled that one of the lawsuits was “clearly a machination not to redress an irreparable harm, but to stop the construction of the Rivian plant.” After this case was dismissed, plaintiffs filed two nearly identical lawsuits, both of which violated state law limiting the number of lawsuits for public infrastructure challenges.

Protecting taxpayer dollars: Taxpayer money is limited and should not be spent defending against baseless lawsuits. The JDA and State are acting as responsible stewards of public funds, seeking to recover money that was wasted on these legal challenges. The JDA will disburse these recovered funds back to the counties of Jasper, Morgan, Newton, and Walton, directly benefiting our schools, infrastructure, and public services.

Not about silencing dissent: Citizens have the right to voice concerns, but when the legal system is weaponized to block a perfectly legal project, that is not a legitimate exercise of that right. The lawsuits filed by the plaintiffs were designed to delay progress, costing taxpayers and the community.

The Rivian manufacturing facility at Stanton Springs North represents a significant economic opportunity for our region. It will create thousands of high-paying jobs, boost the local economy, and deliver long-term benefits to our community. The JDA’s efforts to recover these fees are a responsible move to protect our resources and ensure the project’s success.

Let’s move forward and ensure that taxpayer money is used wisely to support the growth and prosperity of our region, not wasted on frivolous lawsuits.