Robbinsville – A Superior Court judge has ordered a mediated settlement conference between Smoky Mountain Urgent Care and Graham County government before a trial can take place.
Graham County government has sought to evict Smoky Mountain Urgent Care from its facility in downtown Robbinsville, alleging that the medical clinic had failed to provide services required under the operating agreement between the two.
Smoky Mountain Urgent Care leases the facility, which is owned by Graham County government.
Superior Court Judge William Coward ordered the case be referred to a mediated settlement conference. If mediation is not successful, the trial of the case is tentatively scheduled sometime in 2023.
The parties have agreed to change their original depositions deadline. Witnesses include Dr. David R. Castor, who runs the clinic, along with employees of Smoky Mountain Urgent Care and representatives of Graham County. The period for discovery in the case ends on Dec. 31.
In late 2021, Graham County officials and lawyers sent an eviction notice to Smoky Mountain Urgent Care. The clinic responded by obtaining a restraining order against the county, and filing a lawsuit seeking to quash the eviction notice and award damages. The county responded by asking the court to quash the lawsuit, evict the clinic and award the county damages.