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Mid-City residents file lawsuit against Nagin
NEW ORLEANS — A judge is expected to decide whether some Mid-City resident can proceed with a lawsuit against New Orleans Mayor C. Ray Nagin.
They claim he exceeded his authority in committing the city to provide land for the new VA Hospital downtown.
Nearly 15 people sat in court Friday morning waiting on the decision. All were opposed to the current location.
Civil District Court Judge Ethel Julien will make the decision.
The plaintiffs said the lawsuit was filed in hopes of getting public hearings on the location, but the defense countered by saying that already has happened during the crafting of the city’s master plan.
“One of the reasons people need to care about this lawsuit is it’s not just about this particular incident, but if we’re setting a precedent,” said Mary Howell, an attorney advising the plaintiffs. “And truly the amount of power that has been seized by the mayor in trying to do this without these public hearing is truly astonishing.”
