The landlord for the embattled Legislative Information Office in downtown Anchorage is taking the first step in what could be a lengthy process toward a lawsuit.
The claim, filed Monday, with the Legislative Affairs Agency, seeks to recover $37,016,021 for damages connected with the Legislature’s 10-year lease on the building. That lease was ruled invalid in March.
Lawyers for the landlord argued lawmakers should have known procurement rules well enough to not break them when they approved the original contract. They claim the state is on the hook for the $37 million invested in the building project.
The document was delivered to Sen. Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak, who chairs the Legislative Affairs Council. Stevens said it’s being looked at by lawyers who will give advice in a few days. He could not offer specifics on what that advice is likely to be.
The claim is likely to go through a drawn-out appeals process, and could go as far as the state supreme court. Though the move is not a lawsuit, one could emerge if the appeals process does not work out.
Zachariah Hughes reports on city & state politics, arts & culture, drugs, and military affairs in Anchorage and South Central Alaska.
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