Tollway Officials Try to Revive Suit Against Critics

County officials this week initiated an appeal to get their lawsuit reinstated against environmentalists who oppose the construction of the San Joaquin Hills tollway.

In anticipation of a suit filed by environmentalists, tollway officials turned the tables and sued several environmental groups first. The lawsuit was dismissed last month by U.S. District Judge Linda H. McLaughlin in Los Angeles, who ruled that it did not involve an issue that warranted a federal trial.

Environmentalists, who call the lawsuit an act of intimidation to punish opponents, said they were surprised by the appeal.

“It has zero chance of succeeding. It is irresponsible behavior on their part to try to harass us, and it just wastes money,” said Laguna Beach City Councilman Norm Grossman, a board member of Laguna Greenbelt, one of the groups that was sued.

The county’s Transportation Corridor Agencies filed the notice with the 9th District appeals court in Santa Ana. They say their lawsuit is an effort to speed up the court process, since environmentalists are expected to file their own suit next year claiming that the road’s federal environmental impact document is inadequate.