• Judge Draganchuk and Autumn Park Attorney, Gary Villas

MASON - On Wednesday, July 23 at the 30th Circuit Court, Judge Joyce Draganchuk ruled in favor of Meridian Township regarding a lawsuit filed by the Autumn Park residents claiming that the Township violated the Open Meetings Act.

The attorney for Autumn Park, Lawrence Nolan of Nolan, Thomsen and Villas, P.C., didn’t show up to the hearing. Gary Villas, attorney at the same firm, stood-in on behalf of Autumn Park residents.

Draganchuk determined that the claims made by the plaintiffs did not state an action that is recognizable under Michigan law or if they did that there weren’t sufficient facts to justify this case going forward.

“The plaintiffs could file a claim of appeal with the Court of Appeals attempt to take it there. But we’d like to think given the detail in the judge’s opinion that when they read that opinion they’ll realize that there’s just no justification for taking the matter further,” said Meridian Township Attorney, Michael Woodworth of the Hubbard Law Firm.

The Township is currently waiting to see if the Court of Appeals will hear a different appeal made by the Autumn Park residents.

“What the plaintiffs did was not only file this lawsuit that we are here on today, but they also filed an appeal from the Township Board’s determination on appeal with regard to another aspect of the case,” said Woodworth. “After Judge Draganchuk dismissed that appeal, found that it was without merit, the plaintiff’s sought leave or permission from the Court of Appeals to take that matter up further to that court.”

Woodworth and the Township expects to hear a response by the end of August or the beginning of September.