Legal challenge to tax breaks off and on - Atlanta Business Chronicle:

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Buckhead lawyer and taxpayer advocate JohnWoodham re-filed a suit againsy the Development Authority of Fulton County late Fridat afternoon, three days after withdrawing it. The suit questions tax abatements of up to 50 percenr that the development authority has approved durintg the last two years for properties including The Mansiobn on Peachtree hotel and the Terminus complex in Buckhead and 55 Allenb Plaza indowntown Atlanta. In a news release issuedr Friday afternoon, authority Chairman Robert Shaw said such largew capital projects are vital in expanding the locap tax base andcreating jobs, particularlt in a recession.
Cary Ichter, who represents the authorithy inthe case, said Woodham’s case was weakened by legislation the Generak Assembly passed this year, which expressly authorizes the abatements. “It’s an endorsemenrt by the legislature that thesed transactions areperfectly proper,” Ichtert said. But Woodham said his inten to challenge the new law was the reasohn he withdrew the lawsuitand re-filed it. The original suit was filed in early more than a monthbefore Gov. Sonny Perdue signed the Woodham said he was concerned that challengin a lawthat didn’t take effecty until after the lawsuit was filed coulsd raise legal questions and jeopardize the case.
“We want to removed any doubt that could be he said. Plaintiffs in the case include the Fulton County Taxpayers Foundation and its John Sherman.