Members’ voting rights not required for associational standing

Members’ voting rights not required for associational standing

Members’ right to vote for directors of a nonprofit advocacy group is not required to give the group standing to bring a lawsuit alleging violations of state and federal environmental laws, a federal District Court in Pennsylvania has ruled.

The Citizens Coal Council, a Pennsylvania nonprofit corporation, filed suit against a contracting company claiming that pollution emanating from its property was violating environmental protection laws.  The contractor filed a motion to dismiss on the ground that the Council lacked standing to bring the case.

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