Trial is finished, but no decision

An Oconee trial finished this afternoon in the county Common Pleas Court – a case that divides neighbors on a rural road that dead ends into Lake Keowee and also involves the Oconee Board of Zoning Appeals as a defendant.  Judge McIntosh announced no decision, but promised he’ll study what he’s heard in three days this week and consider some post-trial arguments from the attorneys.  Lawyers for members of the Ratliff family and others took into day three day today to complete their witness testimony.  The defense for the appeals board and the other defendants finished calling their witnesses in the period after today’s lunch break.  The judge may have signaled the direction he’s leaning toward when, addressing the plaintiff’s two attorneys, said, “No question, this is a public road” – referring to the Ellenburg Road through which prospective home builders seek a public access to a 15-acre property called Arrowhead Point there they’d like to develop a 19-home subdivision.  Plaintiff’s side insists the county for years stopped maintaining the road and, as such, the road is abandoned.  It appears McIntosh will decide whether common law abandonment is applicable to this case.