Carnival asks that SC lawsuit be tossed out

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — Carnival Cruise Lines wants a judge to toss out a lawsuit stemming from the company’s increased presence on the South Carolina coast.

Charleston residents and environmental groups sued in June saying that Carnival vessels are a public nuisance, amount to illegal hotel operations and violate city ordinances.

In the response filed late last week, Carnival says that there is no legal reason for the lawsuit. .

The response says while zoning ordinances mentioned in the lawsuit date to 1966, the Union Pier area of Charleston has been used as a passenger terminal for more than a century.

It also says state law authorizes the State Ports Authority to operate port facilities and Charleston has no authority to prevent the agency from doing so.