FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Carl Olson                                                                                                            

Phone (309) 663-7384                                                                                          

Central Illinois Regional Airport                                                                         

BLOOMINGTON, IL (June 2, 2006 )—Late Thursday (June 1, 2006) afternoon a McLean County jury delivered a verdict in the case of Platinum Aviation v. Bloomington-Normal Airport Authority.  The lawsuit against the Airport Authority plead eight separate allegations of breach of contract related to the construction of an aircraft hangar and related facilities.  Platinum Aviation had been awarded a contract to construct and manage a full service FBO (Fixed Base Operator) on the Bloomington airfield, based on the airport’s Request for Proposals in 2002.  Platinum subsequently initiated a lawsuit against the Airport Authority contending that airport management’s actions caused construction delays on the new FBO that forced Platinum to incur additional construction expenses and to sustain lost profits.  This lawsuit, originally filed in the summer of 2005 seeking $23 million dollars in damages, was subsequently revised downward to $6.4 million dollars.  

When the verdict was read Thursday afternoon the airport was cleared of six of the eight allegations.  The jury found the airport breached the contracts by failing to file FAA forms in a timely manner in the fall of 2004 and by halting construction at the new FBO site in the summer of 2005 by blocking contractor access to the site.  The jury awarded Platinum Aviation $8,500.00 for all additional costs of construction incurred by Platinum as a result of the breaches of contract by the Airport Authority.  No damages were awarded to Platinum Aviation for its claimed lost profits.  

“Given the magnitude of the plaintiff’s demands, we are obviously pleased with the result in this case.  Hopefully we can now put this matter behind us.  Our staff is to be commended for the outstanding manner in which they have assisted with the defense of this case,” stated Chairman Paul Harmon of the Bloomington Normal Airport Authority.  “This has been a very difficult and complex issue and the Bloomington Normal Airport Authority appreciates the time and attention which the legal system and the jury dedicated towards helping resolve this very challenging matter, “ continued Harmon.  

In a related matter, On May 24^th, 2006, the Illinois Supreme Court denied Image Air’s petition for leave to appeal a ruling involving an alleged violation of the Illinois Open Meeting Act involving the Bloomington Normal Airport Authority.  The Image Air lawsuit was filed against both the Airport Authority and Platinum Aviation in January 2005.  Image Air’s petition to the State Supreme Court arose from an earlier ruling by the Circuit Court in McLean County.  

“The Airport Board and staff are looking forward to the opportunity to once again direct our full attention toward the important business of managing and better positioning the airport to meet the needs of the community,” concluded Chairman Harmon.

 

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