Legal troubles continue surrounding the Adult Care Center closure in Sullivan County. 

A group of residents and families suing Sullivan County over the facility closure have filed a motion to hold Sullivan County in criminal contempt for allegedly violating the temporary restraining order. 

Ulster County Judge Kevin Bryant temporarily halted the closure process in September, but some residents have raised concerns that the temporary restraining order (TRO) was not being followed by Sullivan County.

READ: Judge Finds Sullivan County Likely Violated State Law in Care Center Closure Decision

Documents filed with New York State Supreme Court on Oct. 13 allege that members of the Care Center’s family council were barred from speaking with residents following the TRO. It also alleges that some residents were not provided notice of the TRO during their transfer process.

“This is simply unacceptable; indeed, it is contemptuous particularly when dealing with fragile and vulnerable people whose rights needed to be respected,” court documents state.

Michael Sussman, the attorney representing the plaintiffs suing Sullivan County, said he remains concerned that residents didn’t understand what choices they had available.

“That is a consequence of the county’s behavior and effort to shield them from information, which from my point of view, is frankly despicable,” Sussman told Radio Catskill.

The Sullivan County Legislature publicly voted on Oct. 1 to close the 146-bed facility and issue an RFP to identify an alternative operator to run the Care Center. Sullivan County Deputy Attorney Khalid Bashjawish said that he advised the legislature that a public closure vote before Oct. 19 could help dismiss the lawsuit.

READ: Sullivan Legislature Votes to Close Adult Care Center Despite Court Challenge 

Radio Catskill reached out to Sullivan County to confirm the number of residents and employees still at the Care Center.

The county’s communications director Dan Hust said that the County is unable to comment as “this is a matter of ongoing litigation.” The last count Radio Catskill could confirm was six residents at the Care Center as of Oct. 1.

No evidentiary hearing date has been set yet by the state court.

This is a developing story and may be updated.