The Arcata Community Recycling Center has filed suit against the Humboldt Waste Management Authority, alleging that, as reported by the Courthouse News Service, the HWMA "tricked it into allowing the public trash district to do a 'comprehensive study' of its business, then disclosed trade secrets to competitors, driving down the value of the business, so the defendant could pick it up on the cheap at a foreclosure sale."

As reported earlier on this blog, the ACRC has announced it will shut down its operations in January.

According to the CNS story, the ACRC is seeking punitive damages "for civil rights violations, taking property without just compensation, interference with prospective economic advantage, negligent and intentional misrepresentation, misappropriation of trade secrets, and improper award of public contract."

And it wants the Willits company that outbid it to be dumped.

The CNS story also provides this link to the complaint, which was filed Oct. 24 in Humboldt County Superior Court.