Marlins Stadium Update No. 54,929
Attorneys for the plaintiff, Dr. Gregory Strand, in the Florida Supreme Court case that has been holding up a decision in auto dealer Norman Braman’s suit targeting the financing for a Marlins ballpark filed a motion today to request yet another re-hearing of the case.
The court has already re-heard the case once - a year ago. On Sept. 18, the state's high court overturned its earlier 7-0 decision, deciding instead in a 4-2 ruling that a public vote isn't necessary when using property taxes to pay off bonds issued for large public projects. The case, Strand v. Escambia County, deals with using property tax dollars to repay a $135 million bond issue without first asking taxpayers.
Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Jeri Beth Cohen has said she plans to follow the court’s newest ruling that referendums aren’t needed to use property taxes to pay back bonds on large public projects. But at the request of Braman’s attorneys, she agreed to wait until Oct. 2, when the period to request a re-hearing expires.
It’s unclear whether the motion to re-hear the case will alter Cohen’s decision to release her ruling on Thursday, but it’s unlikely. It also seems unlikely the court would decide to re-hear the case a second time.
The court is not required to re-hear the case, but it also has no timetable for making its decision.


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