DeKalb County (“County”) v. City of Brookhaven (“City”) Proposed "Briarcliff Point" Annexation Arbitration Panel Hearing Summary

Tuesday, August 25, 2020                                9:00 AM                                       Veritext

Wednesday, August 26, 2020                           9:00 AM                         20 Mansell Court, Suite 300

                                                                                                                       Roswell, Georgia 30076

 

This meeting was conducted via teleconference (Zoom) and in-person.  Simultaneous access was made available to the public via YouTube.com and by telephone.

 

In Attendance:

Panel:                                     Bob Weatherford, Chairman; Dr. Charles Mitchell; Charles Glass; Errol Mitchell; Eric Christ

Counsel for Panel:                Jim Elliot, Esq.

Case Coordinator:                Quianna Woodbury

On behalf of the County:     Thomas Mitchell, Esq. John E. Jones, Esq. Shelley D. Momo, Esq.

Via Zoom:                              Viviane H. Ernstes, Esq., Matthew C. Welch, Esq.

On behalf of the City:           Via Zoom:  Robert Ashe, III, Esq., Chris Balch, Esq., Jennifer L. Peterson, Esq., Lindsey A. Harrison

Court Reporter:                    Via Zoom: Judith Leitz Moran

Witnesses on behalf of the County: Andrew Baker, Michelle Otts, Speedy Boutwell

Witnesses on behalf of the City:      Via Zoom: Christian Sigman, Ed Allen, Bob Hughes, Pat Gibson

 

SUMMARY

DAY ONE

1. Introduction of panel members and parties.

2. Panel Members: All

Unanimous Approval of Minutes for the July 22, 2020 Case Management Meeting

3. Oral Arguments

1. County’s Motion to Dismiss- Thomas Mitchell
2. City’s Response to County’s Motion to Dismiss- Jennifer L. Peterson
3. City’s Motion to Dismiss- Jennifer L. Peterson
4. County’s Response to City’s Motion to Dismiss- Shelley D. Momo

4. Panel Members: All, Jim Elliot, Esq.

Executive Session

5. Panel Members: All

Ruling on County’s and City’s Motion to Dismiss

1. The panel voted unanimously to deny the County’s Motion to Dismiss.
2. The panel voted unanimously to defer ruling on the City’s Motion to Dismiss until the end of the hearing.

6. Presentation of Evidence by the County and the City

1. County Opening Statement- Thomas Mitchell
2. City Opening Statement- Robert Ashe, III
3. Testimony and cross-examination of the County’s witnesses, Andrew Baker and Michelle Otts.

Recess until Wednesday, August 26, 2020.

DAY TWO

 

1. Panel Members: All, Jim Elliot, Esq.

Executive Session

2. Continuation of Presentation of Evidence by the County and the City

1. Testimony and cross-examination of the County’s witness, Speedy Boutwell.

County rests its case.

2. Testimony and cross-examination of the City’s witnesses, Christian Sigman, Ed Allen, Bob Hughes, Pat Gibson

City rests its case.

3. City’s Closing Statement-  Jennifer L. Peterson
4. County’s Closing Statement- Thomas Mitchell

 

3. Panel Members: All, Jim Elliot, Esq.

Executive Session

Adjourned.