Crescent Bar islanders may be staying a while

CRESCENT BAR – Residents of Crescent Bar island learned this week they may be staying put through 2012 and even beyond in a letter from the North Park Legal Team.

According to the NPLT, the District Court for the Eastern District of Washington held a brief hearing on Dec. 20 regarding the status  of the lawsuit brought by the islanders against the Grant County PUD in January.

The NPLT said Judge Justin Quackenbush invited the plaintiffs (the islanders) to bring a motion for a preliminary injunction to maintain the status quo pending the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's decision on the PUD's shorelines plan.

“The court's consideration of the motion may take several months because of the time periods allowed for briefing by the parties,” the NPLT wrote. “In the meantime, the court indicated it would issue a temporary restraining order.”

Such a restraining order would bar the PUD from evicting anyone. It would be in order until Quackenbush acts on the injunction request.

The NPLT started its letter to the islanders by noting that Quackenbush repeated his belief that an extension of the lease term (for island properties) to 2023 is enforceable.

“In addition to the motion for an injunction, the court indicated that it would allow other motions to be brought in the interim,” the NPLT said.

The NPLT said attorneys for the islanders will continue to press the case with additional motions. It will continue to ask the court to find that the PUD is obligated to enforce a 2023 lease term found in documents presented to the court previously by the attorneys.