Judge throws out case involving Basilica of St. Mary’s, health center

NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — After several months of uncertainty, the St Mary’s Health Center has received some encouraging news from a judge about the building it has called home for almost 30 years.

In April, the Basilica of Saint Mary sent a letter to the health center, giving them 60 days to vacate.

The deadline was extended to July with conditions, including obtaining $2 million in total loss coverage for the building, which would have extended the lease until December 31st.

Health Center executive director Laura Vinson said they rejected the offer, calling the conditions impossible to meet within the given time frame.

The clinic recently received an eviction notice from the church.

Vinson says their court date in small claims court was Wednesday, Sep. 4, and the judge threw the case out.

Vinson says: If the church wants to file another claim, they’d have to do it in district court.

Vinson said the center’s attorneys will be working on a new agreement to possibly let them stay at the church through 2025, but she isn’t sure if the church will accept it or not.