A Dane County Circuit Court judge has dismissed a lawsuit seeking to prevent fluoride’s reintroduction into DeForest’s public water system.
Dane County Circuit Court Judge Rhonda Lanford sided with the Village of DeForest, whose attorneys asked the court to dismiss a request for a restraining order preventing the addition of fluoride.
First filed by DeForest resident Bernard Coxhead in February, the suit asked the court to prohibit the village from “taking any further action to reintroduce fluoride” into the water system until a federal reassessment of it’s health risks could be determined.
Coxhead’s letter to the court had argued that he would “suffer irreparable harm absent immediate relief” from the addition of fluoride. And, it said that the water system had been safe without fluoridation.
Fluoridated water has been a controversial topic in DeForest since the village board first considered removing it from the public water system to save costs. The board’s subsequent decision to remove fluoride in early 2025 was partially the catalyst for a recall election last summer.
After the spring election, with new village trustees on the board and a public push for fluoride’s reintroduction, the board reconsidered its prior action.
At its May 20 meeting, the board voted 4-2 in favor of a phased approach to its reintroduction after about an hour of public comment.
Asked for comment on the court’s action, Coxhead responded via email that while he was disappointed, the decision was “based primarily upon legal and procedural grounds” under Wisconsin law.
Coxhead urged residents concerned about fluoride’s health effects to educate themselves on the scientific research, adding the cost of filtering it from tap water could pose a burden on those most vulnerable.
Coxhead is evaluating the court’s decision, he said, but added “public policy is not determined solely in courtrooms.”
Commenting on the lessons from the two-year debate, Coxhead indicated a need for improved transparency and public engagement.
“Effective government is strengthened through respectful two-way dialogue where concerns can be explored, facts clarified and differing viewpoints considered before decisions are made,” he said, urging more communication between residents and elected officials.
“The court has issued its ruling, science continues to evolve, and citizens have a responsibility to to remain informed,” Coxhead said, “The broader conversation regarding public health, taxpayer expenditures, vulnerable populations, informed consent and government accountability is far from over.”
Village of DeForest officials did not respond to The Star’s request for comment before the deadline.
Original article online at: https://www.hngnews.com/the_star/local_news/court-dismisses-suit-to-prevent-deforests-fluoride-addition/article_3ad9a9f8-fdd7-4192-bf59-4e88ba080b70.html