Court dismisses lawsuit involving public beach access

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) – North Carolina’s Supreme Court is dismissing a lawsuit that challenged how much of the state’s beaches are free for anyone to stroll or whether parts of it could be closed off by private owners.

The court on Wednesday issued an order saying it was dropping the case on its own initiative but did not explain why.

Justices were scheduled to hear arguments next month in the case that could have decided whether the public can use entire beaches between surf and dunes along all 300 miles of North Carolina’s shoreline.

Gregory and Diane Nies sued Emerald Isle over an ordinance creating a 20 feet passage on beach property they own for public vehicles to travel anytime necessary. The New Jersey couple sold their $1.3 million beachfront home this fall.

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