Bainbridge Strikes Back—with a Powerful New Ally
In the wake of the Georgia Supreme Court’s decision not to hear an appeal challenging the revenue bond issued for Safer Human Medicine, Bainbridge residents are doubling down on their opposition to the proposed monkey breeding facility. Four citizens, already involved in an ongoing lawsuit against the company, have taken the additional step of filing for a temporary restraining order (TRO) to stop Safer Human Medicine from breaking ground.
Credit: PETA
Despite several open lawsuits, Safer Human Medicine has falsely claimed total victory after the Supreme Court’s decision and announced plans to move forward with construction. The notoriously deceptive company stated, “With the Supreme Court’s denial of this challenge, we can begin preparing for construction on our state-of-the-art facility that will advance American medical research.” This claim is not only misleading—it’s flat-out false—and risks convincing uninformed Bainbridge residents that the fight is over.
To counter this narrative and prevent the company from building while litigation is still underway, residents filed the TRO to block construction until the legal process plays out.
In a surprising and encouraging development, Bruce Kirbo, the Decatur County attorney, informed the County Commissioners of the residents’ legal filing and requested permission for the county to support the TRO. The commissioners agreed, marking a significant shift, as the county had originally backed the facility.
The county has since filed its own motion for a temporary restraining order and interlocutory injunction, which are legal requests asking the court to immediately halt construction and prevent Safer Human Medicine from proceeding with the project while the ongoing lawsuits are resolved. This move signals the county’s formal withdrawal of support for the facility and a commitment to pause all activity until the court reaches a final decision. In that filing, it admits to violating Georgia’s Open Meetings Act and confirms it has rescinded both the PILOT and project agreements with Safer Human Medicine.
Importantly, the bond case that was rejected by the Supreme Court was never considered the strongest legal challenge. Legal experts believe the lawsuit over the Open Meetings Act violation is the most substantial, and now, with the county admitting fault and joining the opposition, that case has even more weight.
Many Bainbridge residents see the county’s decision as a turning point. One opponent shared, “This is the first time we’ve felt like the county is truly listening.” With this new legal action, momentum has shifted, and the community, along with a growing coalition of opponents to the facility, is more confident than ever that they’ll win this fight.
Species Unite will be sharing the story of the incredible people fighting this devastating project in our first-ever documentary, which will premiere this fall. In the meantime, you can help spread the word about what’s happening in Georgia by sharing this petition with your friends and family.