State court input sought on JAA deal

A federal appeals panel wants input from the Florida Supreme Court before ruling on whether Jacksonville Aviation Authority broke the law in a land deal.

The 11-page request was filed Monday in the 11th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals. It's the latest development in a nearly 2-year-old lawsuit between the authority and Texas-based real estate developer Jackson-Shaw Co.

Jackson-Shaw, owner of Tradeport industrial park, argues the authority leased 328 nearby acres to a competing developer, Majestic Realty Co., without accepting public bids on the land.

At issue is whether the authority leased the land and developed a revenue sharing agreement with Majestic in a way that broke state constitutional guidelines for municipal entities.

Jackson-Shaw further alleges that Majestic's proposed development, Woodwings East, is lowering the value of Tradeport by $18.5 million.

A federal judge ruled in favor of the authority in January. That ruling is being appealed.

Monday's filing asks for what Jackson-Shaw's lawyer, Michael Tanner, likened to an advisory opinion on Florida constitutional law.

"We're very encouraged by that," Tanner said.

An attempt to reach the authority's lawyer, Cindy Laquidara, was unsuccessful.

david.hunt@jacksonville.com, (904) 359-4025