May 8, 2008 10:26 pm US/Eastern
Braman Lawsuit Against Stadium Moves Forward
Trial Date Is Scheduled For July 1st
Both Sides Have Declared Victory During Hearing
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
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Miami Marlins Stadium Sketch
Auto magnate Norman Braman recently sued Miami-Dade to kill a $3- billion public works megaplan, which includes building a Marlin baseball stadium where the Orange Bowl.once stood, and it looks like the trial will go forward.
Except for dismissing several of the counts brought forward by the plaintiff, a Miami-Dade judge ruled in favor of the lawsuit moving forward during a hearing on Thursday.
One of those charges is that government in the sunshine was not practiced--in other words that the hearings to approve the stadium plan were not held in public.
"The fact that in essence the city sunshine issue and the county sunshine issue have been both thrown out I think is a huge victory for both the city and the county," said City of Miami Mayor Manny Diaz.
Plaintiff's attorney Bob Martinez told CBS4 Liv Davalos that the judge sided with the complaint, "that public money, public credit to aid a private party" is being questioned. This is something that the plaintiff is claiming as a victory.
It was only last month when Miami-Dade commissioners approved what amounts to a fifty-fifty split of the coveted off-duty security work for Marlins games if a new stadium opens in 2011. Miami-Dade County police would handle work inside while the City of Miami police would handle the work outside.
But there are still deeper cracks in the proposed $525-million stadium deal. Some commissioners still argue it's a waste and misuse of taxpayer money.
In short, there are still plenty of bases to cross and agreements to be sealed. If the votes aren't there, or the courts say foul, there's big trouble.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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