Annexation trial delayed
By Barbara Arntsen
Published in News on October 18, 2004 2:00 PM
A Superior Court Judge delayed hearing the city of Goldsboro's motion for summary judgment in the annexation case until Tuesday afternoon, after agreeing that the plaintiffs were entitled to more time to prepare.
The annexation opponents' lawyer told Judge Kenneth F. Crow today that the city had filed a lengthy partial summary judgment, but that it wasn't served in a timely manner.
Former City Attorney Harrell Everett, who resigned as city attorney in June, is continuing to represent the city in the annexation case. Everett acknowledged that the city was late in serving the motion, but said he only missed the deadline by 10 minutes.
Judge Crow agreed to give Eldridge another day to prepare.
The Goldsboro City Council voted in April to annex the east and west sides of Salem Church Road and the north and south sides of Buck Swamp Road.
In its lawsuit against the city, the plaintiffs are questioning the quality of services the city can provide and the meandering method of line-drawing that defined the annexed area.
Jim Eldridge, a Wilmington lawyer specializing in annexation laws, was hired by Good Neighbors United, a group composed of residents in the targeted area, to fight the annexation.
The trial will be held in Wayne County court. The courtroom was packed today with annexation opponents.