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Atlanta to appeal airport suit decision
ATLANTA, The city of Atlanta said it would appeal a court decision that awarded $17.5 million to an advertising firm that claimed corruption in awarding contracts.
The federal court ordered the city, Clear Channel Outdoor Inc. and Barbara Fouch, a businesswoman, to pay $8.5 million in compensatory damages and $9 million in punitive damages to Corey Airport Services and owner Billy Corey, who failed to win a bid on indoor advertising at the Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Tuesday.
Evidence presented at trial included a note from Fouch to Clear Channel requesting $50,000 for an "airport contract proposal fund" that would help secure "continuation of the (advertising) contract," the newspaper said.
In addition, the airport's general manager from 1993 to 1998, Angela Gittens, testified that former Mayor Bill Campbell told her not to put a bid out for the indoor advertising contract to protect Fouch, a friend, from being "hurt."
Acting city attorney Petter Andrews, however, said, "The city is disappointed with today's verdict."
"The city respects the judicial process, but does not believe the verdict is supported by the evidence presented at trial," he said in a statement.
ATLANTA, The city of Atlanta said it would appeal a court decision that awarded $17.5 million to an advertising firm that claimed corruption in awarding contracts.
The federal court ordered the city, Clear Channel Outdoor Inc. and Barbara Fouch, a businesswoman, to pay $8.5 million in compensatory damages and $9 million in punitive damages to Corey Airport Services and owner Billy Corey, who failed to win a bid on indoor advertising at the Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Tuesday.
Evidence presented at trial included a note from Fouch to Clear Channel requesting $50,000 for an "airport contract proposal fund" that would help secure "continuation of the (advertising) contract," the newspaper said.
In addition, the airport's general manager from 1993 to 1998, Angela Gittens, testified that former Mayor Bill Campbell told her not to put a bid out for the indoor advertising contract to protect Fouch, a friend, from being "hurt."
Acting city attorney Petter Andrews, however, said, "The city is disappointed with today's verdict."
"The city respects the judicial process, but does not believe the verdict is supported by the evidence presented at trial," he said in a statement.
