By Jim Reeder

FORT PIERCE — St. Lucie County commissioners condemned Figg Engineers Tuesday for suing four opponents of a proposed toll bridge, calling the suit an effort to stifle public debate.

"If you’re going to take money from public agencies, you have to take criticism, too," said Commission Chairman John Bruhn. "If you ask for public comment, you’re going to get it."

Figg Engineers is a consultant to the St. Lucie County Expressway & Bridge Authority,

which is considering construction of the toll bridge to South Hutchinson Island.

The firm filed suit against four critics of the project, claiming they had libeled and slandered the company in comments about Figg and an investigation of the Garcon Point Bridge project in Florida’s Panhandle.

Figg’s attorney, Harold Melville, denied the suit was aimed only at stifling debate.

"People wrongfully defamed have every right to defend themselves in court to make sure their good name is cleared," Melville said.

He said Figg’s competitors have used news reports across the state to cause "problems and difficulties" for Figg on jobs they hold and others they hope to get.

Figg, which designed the Garcon Point project, was subpoenaed by a federal grand jury, which later indicted the construction company for illegally dumping debris in the water.

Three officials of Odebrect-Metric have pleaded guilty and the company has agreed to pay $4 million in fines and other costs.

County Commissioners Cliff Barnes and Paula Lewis said they plan to raise the issue of the libel suit at its next meeting.

Charles Grande, one of the defendants in the suit, raised the issue at Tuesday’s county commission meeting.

"We try to encourage public participation, but this suit is trying to stop public participation Grande said. ‘This one is targeted at four individuals who don’t have the ability to stay in court, with the plaintiff."

He said Figg Engineers should drop the suit entirely or also sue newspapers, which have

reported on the controversy.