PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (CBS12) — A long-standing legal battle between the City of Port St. Lucie and its former trash hauler has concluded just days before it was set to go to trial.
A pretrial meeting scheduled for today in St. Lucie County court was bypassed after the city and Waste Pro reached a settlement agreement. The trial, which had been on the docket for years, was scheduled to begin on Monday, April 13.
The dispute originated in September 2021 after the city faced record-breaking complaints from residents over missed collections and inconsistent service. According to the city attorney, the settlement will result in $24 million being paid to Port St. Lucie. The payout will be delivered in three installments, with $21 million due in the next 30 days, followed by $1.5 million scheduled to be paid on January 31, 2027, and a second $1.5 million installment on January 31, 2028…