BALDWIN COUNTY, Ala. (WALA) – A Baldwin County judge has approved ARC Baldwin County’s request to dismiss its legal challenge to the Alabama Department of Mental Health’s decision to shut it down, moving the case out of circuit court and back into the state’s administrative appeals process.
Judge J. Byron Brackin approved the nonprofit’s petition to dismiss its request for judicial review of the department’s decision to decertify ARC Baldwin County.
Background on the closure
ARC Baldwin County was ordered to close July 15 after the Alabama Department of Mental Health revoked its certification. The department cited serious deficiencies uncovered during a state investigation, including alleged failures involving medical care, record integrity and staffing.
The nonprofit is continuing to challenge the decertification through the Department of Mental Health’s administrative appeals process. If the department upholds its decision, ARC Baldwin County could again appeal the case in Baldwin County Circuit Court…