Lawsuit against Hendry County will move forward in monkey facility case

HENDRY COUNTY, Fla.- A lawsuit against Hendry County over a massive monkey breeding facility will go forward.

The county already gave the company behind the project permission for a 34 acre breeding facility — but without notice or input from the public.

Neighbors say the deal was done in secret so they want the plan scrapped.

The lawyer representing the county says public officials did nothing wrong but neighbors disagree.

“All of a sudden, one day I find out they’re going to put 3,000 wild monkeys in my backyard. No notice, no letters, no phone calls, nothing. Just, ‘guess what? We’re building a monkey farm.’ Yeah, I mean, how would you like it in your backyard?” said resident Billy Stephens.

In court Thursday, a judge decided the neighbors do indeed have a case.

The attorney for Hendry County tried to get the lawsuit thrown out.

He said the county didn’t violate sunshine laws because government officials weren’t meeting to approve the monkey farm.

The decision was made by a county-zoning office staffer — which neighbors say, should never have happened.