Developing…
The Jackson, TN Court of Appeals upheld the dismissal of a lawsuit filed against the City of Lakeland to stop the funding of a Lakeland high school.
The lawsuit, filed Dec. 8, 2017, sought to block tax-free lease revenue bonds approved by the Lakeland Board of Commissioners (BOC) and its Industrial Development Board (IDB). The suit also alleged violation(s) of the Tennessee Open Meetings Act. The bond deal, for up to $60 million in funding, did not require a tax increase. The lawsuit was dismissed for mootness by the local trial court and the plaintiffs appealed to the court of appeals where the dismissal has been upheld.
Lillie and Cary Melton of Lakeland filed the lawsuit and were joined by James D. Abbott, William T. Mallard, Brian Tipler, Deborah Tipler, Christopher J. Smith, Melissa K. Smith, Heather Long and James L. Murray Jr. Representing the defense was Robert L. J. Spence, Jr. and Bryan Meredith, both of the Spence Law Firm. Wiseman Bray PLLC represented the City of Lakeland in the appeal hearing.
Response From Vice Mayor Josh Roman
“Personally, I wish the court of appeals had gone even further and answered the ultimate question about the city and IDB’s authority to do the bond deal as it was structured in 2017. But as we’ve been advised by council, they didn’t need to answer that question because the case was moot anyway and they agreed with the dismissal. I’m sorry the city had to go through this expensive episode. But at least we won in the appeals stage and now it is officially over.”
