Attorney offers to defend county over 2491

LIHUE — Peter A. Schey, president of the Center for Human Rights and Constitutional Law, has joined the legal team in support of Kauai County Council Bill 2491 related to pesticides and genetically modified organisms.

Schey has volunteered to defend the county at no charge should Kauai’s agrochemical companies file suit to block implementation of the bill, according to a press release. He joins attorneys Paul Achitoff of Earthjustice, Andrew Kimbrell and Sylvia Wu of the Center for Food Safety, and other attorneys who have provided legal support for the passage of Bill 2491.

“The Center for Human Rights and Constitutional Law’s support for Bill 2491 reconfirms what numerous other legal experts have also concluded: the County of Kauai has the clear legal authority to pass and implement this important legislation,” said Councilman Gary Hooser, who co-authored the bill.

Schey has served as lead counsel or co-counsel in more than 100 major civil rights and class action cases in federal courts throughout the U.S., in cases involving constitutional, criminal, transnational and corporate issues, and has successfully argued cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, states the release.

Achitoff is the managing attorney of Earthjustice’s Hawaii office, has argued cases successfully before the Hawaii Supreme Court and handles public interest environmental litigation.

Kimbrell, founder and executive director for the Center for Food Safety, is an attorney for matters of public interest, human health and the environment.

Wu specializes in law and policy related to genetically engineered crops, factory farming, aquaculture, pesticides and other food safety issues.

The Kauai County Council Committee on Economic Development will resume deliberation of Bill 2491 on Sept. 9. at 9 a.m. Testimony can be emailed to counciltestimony@kauai.gov.