Missouri AG, General Assembly seek to dismiss lawsuit against stadium funding bill

Key Takeaways:

• The lawsuit targets a new stadium funding bill in Missouri.
• Missouri’s Attorney General and General Assembly are collaborating on the dismissal effort.
• They claim the plaintiffs have no taxpayer or legislative standing to sue.
• Proceedings are underway in Cole County Circuit Court.

Missouri Officials Push for Lawsuit Dismissal

Attorneys representing the Missouri General Assembly, in tandem with the Missouri Attorney General, are seeking to dismiss a lawsuit connected to a stadium funding bill. They presented their arguments in Cole County Circuit Court, indicating that the case should not proceed because, in their view, the plaintiffs lack the grounds to bring such a lawsuit.

The Question of Standing

At the heart of the case is whether the plaintiffs can claim standing. The attorneys contend that taxpayers do not have a valid legal interest in this specific challenge, stating that the plaintiffs “lack taxpayer standing.” Furthermore, they dismissed the idea of “legislative standing,” arguing that there is no legitimate legislative basis for the plaintiffs to move forward with the suit.

Cole County Court Arguments

All proceedings are taking place in Cole County Circuit Court, where state-level legal disputes often unfold. By filing their motions here, the Missouri General Assembly and Attorney General hope to halt the lawsuit early, preventing what they contend is an unfounded legal challenge.

Implications for the Stadium Funding Bill

Although details of the stadium bill are not fully outlined in publicly available information, it remains the central issue of the lawsuit. By claiming that the plaintiffs have no legal standing, state officials aim to protect the bill’s current status and avoid a lengthy legal battle. The court’s decision on standing will determine whether the case proceeds or is dismissed at this early stage.