News
September 19, 2025
Plaintiffs release commissioners’ depositions in Project Pascalis lawsuit
Plaintiffs in the Project Pascalis lawsuit against the City of Aiken released depositions by Keith Wood and Chris Verenes, the former chair and vice chair of the Aiken Municipal Development Commission, who say that city officials intentionally attempted to circumvent...
**Aiken, SC** – Depositions from two key figures in the ongoing Project Pascalis lawsuit have been released by the plaintiffs, potentially shedding new light on the controversial downtown redevelopment project and the City of Aiken’s handling of it. Keith Wood and Chris Verenes, the former chair and vice chair of the Aiken Municipal Development Commission (AMDC), allege in their depositions that city officials deliberately tried to bypass established protocols and procedures related to Project Pascalis.
The release of these depositions marks a significant development in the legal battle surrounding the ambitious, multi-million dollar initiative aimed at revitalizing a central block of Aiken’s downtown area. Project Pascalis has been plagued by delays, cost overruns, and legal challenges since its inception, drawing criticism from some residents and business owners.
Wood and Verenes, who were deeply involved in the project's early stages through their positions on the AMDC, claim in their sworn testimonies that city officials actively worked to circumvent established processes. While the specific details of this alleged circumvention are not fully available to the public, the plaintiffs suggest the depositions highlight a pattern of behavior that raises serious questions about transparency and accountability in the city's management of Project Pascalis.
The depositions are expected to be closely scrutinized by legal experts and the public alike, as they could provide crucial insights into the decision-making processes behind the project and the relationships between the city government and the AMDC. The plaintiffs in the lawsuit hope that the release of this information will further demonstrate what they believe to be mismanagement and potential wrongdoing on the part of city officials involved in Project Pascalis.
The City of Aiken has yet to formally respond to the release of the depositions, but is expected to issue a statement addressing the allegations made by Wood and Verenes. The Project Pascalis lawsuit remains ongoing, and the court is expected to consider the information contained in these depositions as the case progresses. The outcome of the lawsuit could have significant implications for the future of Project Pascalis and for the city's ability to pursue similar large-scale development projects in the future.
The release of these depositions marks a significant development in the legal battle surrounding the ambitious, multi-million dollar initiative aimed at revitalizing a central block of Aiken’s downtown area. Project Pascalis has been plagued by delays, cost overruns, and legal challenges since its inception, drawing criticism from some residents and business owners.
Wood and Verenes, who were deeply involved in the project's early stages through their positions on the AMDC, claim in their sworn testimonies that city officials actively worked to circumvent established processes. While the specific details of this alleged circumvention are not fully available to the public, the plaintiffs suggest the depositions highlight a pattern of behavior that raises serious questions about transparency and accountability in the city's management of Project Pascalis.
The depositions are expected to be closely scrutinized by legal experts and the public alike, as they could provide crucial insights into the decision-making processes behind the project and the relationships between the city government and the AMDC. The plaintiffs in the lawsuit hope that the release of this information will further demonstrate what they believe to be mismanagement and potential wrongdoing on the part of city officials involved in Project Pascalis.
The City of Aiken has yet to formally respond to the release of the depositions, but is expected to issue a statement addressing the allegations made by Wood and Verenes. The Project Pascalis lawsuit remains ongoing, and the court is expected to consider the information contained in these depositions as the case progresses. The outcome of the lawsuit could have significant implications for the future of Project Pascalis and for the city's ability to pursue similar large-scale development projects in the future.
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