Stockbridge on Friday dropped two pending lawsuits that were part of its fight over Eagle’s Landing cityhood.
Voters on Nov. 6 overwhelming rejected a referendum sought by residents of Eagle's Landing, a well-heeled community on the southern end of Stockbridge, to create their own city by de-annexing half of Stockbridge and pairing it with a portion of unincorporated Henry County.
"The people made their decision on this involuntary de-annexation," Stockbridge City Attorney Michael Williams said in a release. "We are ever so grateful for the community support. Because of the clear victory, the Stockbridge mayor and council made the decision to have all pending legal action dismissed immediately. We are now focused on moving forward as one united community."
The Henry County city had sought an injunction in the Georgia Supreme Court and the U.S. District Court in Atlanta to keep the cityhood measure off the Nov. 6 mid-term ballot.
Both courts denied Stockbridge's request, but agreed to consider the city's argument that the referendum was unconstitutional and violated the Voting Rights Act of 1965 as well as the 14th Amendment's equal protection clause.
Stockbridge spent more than $600,000 in its battle over Eagle's Landing cityhood. The majority of the money — almost $481,000 — was paid to law firms that represented Stockbridge in the litigation.
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