MIDDLEBURY — Middlebury resident Alpine Bingham has decided to take his town office/recreation center–related lawsuit to the Vermont Supreme Court.
The Independent reported in its Dec. 1 issue that Addison County Superior Court Judge Robert A. Mello had dismissed the suit, which named as defendants the town of Middlebury, Middlebury College, the Addison Independent and Bread Loaf Corp. Bingham claimed the defendants’ collective actions unduly influenced the electorate prior to votes held earlier this year on the $6.5 million municipal building/recreation center project.
Mello, in his decision, stated among other things that “In his action, (Bingham) has completely failed to allege by his amended complaint that actions of the defendants were reprehensible or tainted by malice. Indeed, plaintiff has not alleged any facts which could lead this court to conclude the actions of defendants were even the least bit wrongful.”
Bingham is appealing Mello’s ruling to the state Supreme Court. The four lawsuits Bingham has filed against the town have thus far cost the community around $12,000 in legal expenses, according to town officials.