Georgia judge won’t award attorneys fees to governments in lawsuit over Rivian vehicle plant
September 12, 2025
A judge has rejected an attempt by Georgia and a local development agency to make residents pay legal fees after they unsuccessfully sued to block the Rivian electric vehicle plant. The state and a development authority wanted six property owners to pay over $337,000 in fees. Judge Stephen Bradley says in a ruling filed Friday that the lawsuits weren’t frivolous and that awarding fees could hurt citizens’ ability to challenge government actions. The ruling comes days before a groundbreaking ceremony for the $5 billion Rivian Automotive plant east of Atlanta. Some locals oppose the plant, saying it is an inappropriate neighbor in a rural area.