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December 4, 2009

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Judge rules against controversial ranch

Wednesday, Oct. 30, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

Feuding between Clark County and Jacque Fitzgerald over her Sagebrush Ranch continued in court but there was no clear winner at the end of the hearing.

Fitzgerald lost her bid Tuesday before District Judge Nancy Becker for a new hearing that might have let her continue operating trail rides, a school and other activities at the ranch.

Becker ruled the county didn't abuse its discretion and did give her a fair hearing when it sought to limit her operation.

The judge said she agreed with the county that Fitzgerald's livery stable license doesn't allow her to operate a training school.

While Becker said that conducting trail rides as part of a profit-making school is not allowed, renting horses for trail rides or conducting charitable trail rides is permissible.

But Becker said her findings would not be binding until after a full hearing on the issue of a permanent injunction.

That means Fitzgerald can't be held in contempt of court for continuing the controversial business she has operated for years.

The county, however, won the right from the judge to continue issuing misdemeanor citations to Fitzgerald. Those are being decided in Justice Court.

Fitzgerald's attorney, George Ogilvie, said he considered Tuesday's court conclusions to be a victory.

"It's what I expected," Ogilvie said, indicating that he feared the possibility of contempt citations.

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