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Thursday, April 19, 2001
Citizen says team favors individuals, not state
Associated Press
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MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The push to bring an NBA team to Memphis
drew a court challenge from a private citizen Thursday.
The petition contends that plans to build an arena with public
money would help a private business and a few individuals at the
expense of the rest of the state's citizens.
A private business group directing the NBA search has said an
arena costing $250 million is a must for the city to attract one of
the two teams interested in moving to Memphis, the Vancouver
Grizzlies and the Charlotte Hornets.
The petition asks the Chancery Court to prohibit the state
Legislature, City Council and Shelby County Commission from
appropriating public money for the arena.
It was filed by lawyer Duncan Ragsdale on behalf of himself and
his wife, as citizens of Memphis. Ragsdale asked the court for a
May 11 hearing to set a trial date.
Ragsdale contends the Tennessee Constitution bars the passing of
laws that favor individuals over the general citizenry.
"They're creating a class of people for favored treatment. You
and I can't go get the city or the county or the state to build us
an office and pay for it and we don't have to pay anything,"
Ragsdale said.
Marty Regan, lawyer for the NBA pursuit team, said his clients
want to bring a team to Memphis to help the city, not themselves.
The boosters contend a professional sports franchise would help
the city attract more business and industry and generally improve
the quality of life in Memphis.
"The ownership group and the individuals who are bringing this
to Memphis have done it with purely a community interest," Regan
said.
The petition asks the court to require the private NBA boosters,
the league and the mayors of Memphis and Shelby County to turn over
any records or correspondence involving negotiations for the
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