Judge Dismisses SLAPP Lawsuit Against Coastal Alliance and David Swan
Ruling from the bench yesterday (Oct. 13, 2025), Allegan County Circuit Court Judge Matthew Antkoviak granted the Coastal Alliance’s motion to dismiss NorthShore of Saugatuck’s SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation) lawsuit against the Alliance and Board President David Swan.
“This is a major victory not only for the Coastal Alliance and David Swan, but for everyone’s constitutional right to petition regulators and lawmakers for change,” said Coastal Alliance Board Chair Bobbie Gaunt. “Lawsuits like this are clearly designed to thwart and silence opposition and the exercise of rights that are guaranteed by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.”
The Coastal Alliance was notified of NorthShore’s lawsuit on June 27, 2024.
“NorthShore’s claims were a desperate jumble of hyperbole and vitriol that had no basis in fact or law,” said Swan. “We can only conclude that their motive was to bankrupt the Alliance as a means to end our challenges to development plans that violate zoning ordinances – and their strategy failed.”
The Coastal Alliance will post the judge’s written order once it becomes available, along with a transcript of the October 13 hearing. NorthShore has 21 days from the date of the written order to appeal Judge Antkoviak’s ruling to the Michigan Court of Appeals.
The Coastal Alliance and NorthShore have other lawsuits pending, including:
Zoning Appeal: Allegan County Circuit Court Judge Antkoviak is currently reviewing the Saugatuck Township Zoning Board of Appeals’ decision in July 2024 concluding that the Coastal Alliance possesses legal standing to challenge Saugatuck Township’s decision to issue NorthShore a permit in 2017 to build a proposed marina at the Kalamazoo River Mouth. Judge Antkoviak can affirm, modify, or reverse the ZBA. We expect a decision in early 2026. If standing is affirmed, the Coastal Alliance will argue the merits of our appeal — that the Township’s approval of the special approval use permit for the marina violates its zoning ordinances.
Marina Permit: NorthShore has appealed the February 2024 decision of the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) to deny NorthShore’s permit to build a proposed marina at the Kalamazoo River Mouth. The Coastal Alliance, the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi, the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians, and the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi have intervened to support EGLE. We expect a decision in 2026.
