Politics from the Palouse to Puget Sound

Friday, September 14, 2007

"PARD allowed to present oral arguments in Wal-Mart case; Decision will force court date to be rescheduled"

Justice delayed is justice denied...

From today's Moscow-Pullman Daily News:
A panel of judges from Washington's Division III Court of Appeals agreed Wednesday to allow oral arguments in a case regarding the possible location of a Wal-Mart store in Pullman.

The Pullman Alliance for Responsible Development submitted the request Monday as part of the group's appeal of a Whitman County Superior Court decision that cleared the way for a proposed Wal-Mart Supercenter to be built on Bishop Boulevard in Pullman.

PARD Treasurer Alex Hammond declined to comment on the judges' decision.

Pullman City Attorney Laura McAloon, who will be allowed to provide oral arguments on behalf of the city, said legal counsel will not be able to submit any testimony or evidence during oral arguments.

"They're just arguing the legal facts," she said.

A lawyer representing Wal-Mart also will be allowed to present oral arguments.

The appellate judges originally were scheduled to look over the PARD appeal based solely on briefs and previous court documents during a hearing Oct. 19 in Spokane. McAloon said since oral arguments have been permitted, the case will be rescheduled. A date has not yet been set.

McAloon said she has not decided if she will provide an oral argument for the city.

"It depends," she said. "If that looks like an issue we should provide testimony on, I will."

Wal-Mart announced plans to build a store on Bishop Boulevard in October 2004. PARD appealed the city's approval of the retail corporation's environmental checklist and site plan.

The group's appeal was dismissed in October 2005 when Whitman County Superior Court Judge David Frazier considered the arguments of attorneys for Wal-Mart, the city and PARD on issues such as traffic and the proposed store's effect on the local economy. PARD then took the case to appellate court.
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1 comment:

April E. Coggins said...

"PARD Treasurer Alex Hammond declined to comment on the judges' decision."
This is a guy who can talk endlessly, about nothing. Something tells me that PARD has another trick up their sleeve and the UFCW attorneys are telling the normally opinionated clap-traps to stay quiet. Should I offer to sell a roll of duct tape to PARD's union attorneys? Heaven knows they will need it and they won't be able to buy it at Wal-Mart.