Franklin county to file suit against Orion Marine in local court

Franklin County commissioners have agreed to file suit against the Orion Marine Group in local circuit court.

Orion Marine owns the barge that damaged the St. George Island fishing pier in late June during Tropical Storm Debby.

The barge slammed into the pier during the storm and knocked out three sections of roadway, leaving a 165 foot gap in the pier.

The Orion group is claiming it was not negligent and therefore should not be held liable for more than the cost of the barge which is 105 thousand dollars.

The cost for repairing the pier is estimated at over 600 thousand dollars.

County commissioners unanimously agreed last week to allow its attorney in the case file suit in the local circuit court so a local jury can decide whether Orion is liable in the case and the amount of the damages.

A federal judge, however, will still have the ultimate decision as to how much money the Orion Marine Group has to pay to the county.

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