METHADONE DECISION EXPECTED NEXT MONTH

A Shelby County circuit judge said Friday he will deliver a decision on
whether to issue a permanent injunction against the county's first methadone
clinic next month.

Judge Dan Reeves said plaintiff and defense attorneys will have seven
days each to present their final legal arguments to the court, and he
will make a decision in three weeks.

During Friday's testimony, defense attorney David Belser called a
series of witnesses to prove that the clinic's owners intended to open
the business in Calera.

Witnesses testified that clinic owner Susan Staats-Sidwell searched
for suitable property for the clinic in Calera before buying a
building in Saginaw.

A certificate of need was issued to Sidwell on Jan. 21, with the
location indicated as Calera.

A project modification was approved in May for the Saginaw location.
The certificate of need applies countywide, Belser said.

Plaintiff attorney Mickey Johnson and district attorney Robby Owens
countered, claiming that Sidwell defrauded Saginaw residents by
opening the clinic in their community without notifying them.

"Our issue from the beginning has been whether or not the citizens of
Saginaw are entitled to notice of what kinds of business are going
into their community, and whether the defendant exercised that right,"
Owens said.

Reeves continually reminded attorneys that the issue the court was
considering was whether clinic owners defrauded Saginaw residents.

On several occasions throughout court proceedings, however, testimony
veered toward the pros and cons of methadone treatment.