The U.S. Supreme Court gave Indian River County’s new train lawyer until May 18 to file a last-gasp appeal to overturn federal approvals for Virgin Trains USA’s expansion to Orlando.
Chief Justice John Roberts granted the extension last Tuesday to allow Jeffrey Lamken, of MoloLamken LLP, Washington, D.C., time to study the record and relevant legal principles in the case.
John’s Island train safety advocates privately collected $200,000 in February to cover the county’s legal fees for the long-shot appeal, rather than accept a Dec. 20, 2109, appellate court defeat.
The goal is to block Virgin Trains from expanding to Orlando from South Florida and running 34 trains per day through Indian River County at speeds of up to 110 mph.
If the high court agrees to hear the appeal, the county will pay Molo
Lamken another $400,000 in legal fees. County commissioners were slated to vote Tuesday to approve an agreement with MoloLamken.