Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Recently, you ran an article about a Tryon woman suing the Feds over Rails to Trails. That woman is me. I feel the need to clear up some things. 

First and foremost, I would like your readers to know that I had no knowledge of the law office of Lewis Rice contacting media outlets about this lawsuit. Yes, they are representing me, along with approximately 150 others, who are landowners affected by the Saluda Grade Trail. When I contacted the law office, I was sent this response:  

“We apologize for putting you in this situation and for all the publications scheduled to go out this week. While we do have over 150 landowners, not all have been added to the complaint. We randomly selected your name to start the case in the Court of Federal Claims. We are diligently working to amend the complaint. Once we amend the complaint according to alphabetical order, you will no longer be the only landowner named.”

This unwanted publicity has caused a firestorm of calls and emails. Just the first of the week, I was contacted by Lewis Rice and asked to do an interview with WSPA-TV about the lawsuit. I immediately declined because I would never seek out any kind of publicity; I consider it a conflict of interest as I sit on a Town of Tryon Rails to Trails Committee, and, honestly, I support the Trail in many ways. People consistently forget that I say, “I’m not opposed to Rails to Trails; I just don’t want it in my backyard.”

I was never told by Lewis Rice that I had been “randomly selected” out of 150 plaintiffs, nor did anyone in the news media contact me for a statement. I do realize that you most likely did not have my contact information. Many others in the community have signed a contract for legal representation, including the Town of Tryon. I hope this clears up the misunderstanding of the press release from Lewis Rice that makes it seem as though I’m the only one involved.

Thank you for listening.

 

Anne Day

Tryon