Court Opinion

ID: 9530568
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 04:01:08.352981+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:28:10.536237
License: Public Domain

BERRY, Justice
(dissenting).
I am unable to agree with the majority opinion.
The Trust is either a legal entity separate and apart from the city or it isn’t. If Trust is not a separate legal entity from the city, then the constitutional restraints placed upon a city relative to the manner in which a bonded indebtedness may be incurred are applicable, and being applicable, the financing plan before us clearly violates the Constitution. If the Trust is a separate legal entity, then the city has clearly granted a franchise to Trust in violation of Art. 18, Secs. 5(a) and 7 of the Constitution.
I am of the firm conviction that Trust is a legal entity separate and apart from the city and that a franchise was granted in violation of the cited constitutional provisions.
For the reasons herein stated, I respectfully dissent.
I am. authorized to state that WILLIAMS, V. C. J., concurs in the foregoing dissenting view.