Sorry we haven’t updated this blog in awhile; we’ve been on hold while several developments in the case have been pending. We have several pieces of good news to report!
With regards to Yelba Carvajal’s free trade zone application which included the CDCA's property in its design (see previous post), the Free Trade Zone Commission has informed us that the matter had been turned over to their legal department. It is investigating the case and will call us in for a meeting when it has a written reply for us.
Meanwhile, Mike met once again with the US Embassy, and requested that they advise all potential businesses wanting to locate in Carvajal's proposed free trade zone to avoid doing so until the CDCA's property was eliminated from the plans. Both the US Embassy and the Attorney General’s office continue to work with us to help resolve these cases in a fair and equitable manner and the Attorney General has requested and been granted status in both civil cases in defense of our interests!
In another development, we’ve just received a legal document relating to earlier dissolution of the dairy co-op (Gabriel Cardenal No. 2) that originally sold the CDCA both pieces of property, detailing all the land sales made by the dairy co-op over the years and clearly listing both of the CDCA's purchases! It makes it clear that the purpose of the document was to decide what to do with the remaining property belonging to the dairy co-op upon its dissolution, and the decision was made to either sell or divide up all property still belonging to the co-op. This document specifically excluded the CDCA's two lots (our original Center side and the Industrial Park where the spinning cooperative, etc. is located), making it clear that our lots were no longer the dairy co-op's to sell to anyone. With this document, it’s clear that Yelba Carvajal’s case against us is on very shaky ground!
In the meantime, our lawyer has told us that Carvajal’s lawyer has made no attempt to try to move either case forward, and in the case involving our Center (where our offices and volunteer dorm are located), our lawyer has insisted that the court actually see the original title that she claims she has. As of last Friday she had not turned it over to the court.
In the penal case we have filed against the president of the dairy co-op who “sold” land illegally to Carvajal, we are in the process now of having the court submit his signature to a handwriting expert to validate that his signatures on our deeds are valid.
It seems that Yelba Carvajal’s plan is to fight a war of attrition, and to date we have been forced to spend more than $10,000 struggling to keep possession of land that is legally ours. These expenses are unjust and unexpected, and so we are very appreciative of the designated donations you’ve sent to help cover these ongoing costs.
