Town to livestream water trial closing arguments

Apple Valley, CA — Feb. 2, 2021: Closing arguments in the Town’s water trial to acquire the Liberty Utilities Apple Valley water system are scheduled for Feb. 4 and 5. Due to COVID restrictions, the San Bernardino County courthouse is not open to visitors however the Town will livestream the closing arguments to www.AppleValley.tv (click on the green Watch Live button) and on the Town’s public access channels (local Spectrum 186 and Frontier 29).

Closing arguments are expected to start at 10 a.m. each day and conclude by 4 p.m. with a lunch break from 12 noon to 1:30 p.m.

Since the trial began in October 2019, both the Town and Liberty Utilities have presented their cases to the court, including most recently submitting final briefings and rebuttals in late 2020, after earlier delays due to COVID-related court closures.

As a bench trial, the case has been heard by a judge, and not by a jury. Sometime after hearing closing arguments, Judge Alvarez will render his decision whether the Town has the right to acquire the Liberty Utilities water system by eminent domain. Following the conclusion of this right-to-take phase, if Judge Alvarez finds in favor of the Town, there will be a valuation phase where a jury will be selected to determine the value of the water system.

For more information, please contact the Town’s Public Information Office at [email protected]

Source: TOAV