LIHUE, Hawaii (AP) - Kauai County won’t be getting free legal services to help defend an ordinance regulating the use of pesticides and genetically modified crops by large agricultural businesses.
The county says it received only one response to a request for pro bono legal services. But the county rejected that attorney’s submission, partly because of a lack of relevant qualifications.
Last month, three biotech companies filed a lawsuit in federal court seeking to block the county from implementing the law when it goes into effect in August.
The county says that several firms had previously offered pro bono attorneys for lawsuits expected in response to the bill passing.
The county council on Wednesday was expected to hear a $75,000 funding request to hire a law firm.
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