David Haight and Blue Ridge Mayor Rhonda Haight have dropped their lawsuits against city council members Angie Arp, Bill Bivins, Jack Taylor and the city.
Motions were filed in each case by their attorney, Kurt R. Hilbert of Chambers, Adams, Backer and Kaufman, LLC. October 14 asking the lawsuits be dismissed “without prejudice.”
“Without prejudice” gives the Haights the option of filing the lawsuits again, correcting any errors in the form in which they were originally filed.
The lawsuits sought to have the three council members removed from office.
While the city was not named in an individual action, each lawsuit contained language demanding a change in the city charter. That change would have removed a provision allowing the mayor to be removed by three council members.
The Haights’ lawsuit was originally filed May 16, 2024.
Legal expenses for the council members and city, which the city is responsible for paying, have totaled $101,599.05 through September. Bills have not yet been received for October, according to records on file at city hall.