Judge throws out lawsuit targeting funds for A’s stadium in Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS ( KLAS ) — In a ruling issued on Friday, a judge threw out a lawsuit that challenged funding for the A’s stadium in Las Vegas.

The lawsuit — filed by Strong Public Schools Nevada, the Political Action Committee (PAC) for the Nevada State Education Association — argued Senate Bill 1 (SB1), the legislation containing the funding formula for the stadium , was unconstitutional. District Judge Kristin Luis ruled that the PAC lacked standing in her motion to dismiss. Vicki Kriedel and Christina Giunchigliani are also named as plaintiffs, but the lawsuit failed to establish their standing in the case.

“Plaintiff SPSN has not demonstrated that it is an ‘appropriate’ party to bring suit,” according to the ruling.

Strong Public Schools targeted SB1’s funding mechanisms, but the judge’s ruling disputed that the PAC was harmed, and did not meet the requirements for an exception to rules on standing. The ruling described the PAC as “generalists claiming that they have an interest in education, that education will be impacted by the subject legislation, and that they are in a better position than anyone to make the constitutional challenges.”

Further, the outcome of the legislation that Strong Public Schools is challenging is not “ripe” — no harm has yet taken place.

“Plaintiffs can point to no specific provision of SB 1 to show that money will in fact be diverted from education in a manner that violates the Nevada Constitution. In this case, the existence of any injury to Plaintiffs or anyone else is purely speculative.”

The lawsuit named as plaintiffs the State of Nevada, State Treasurer Zach Conine, Gov. Joe Lombardo, Clark County, the Clark County Stadium Board and the Nevada Legislature.

“Plaintiffs do not allege or present evidence that any education initiative or activity will not have sufficient funding,” according to the ruling.

Because the lawsuit failed to establish standing and the claims are not ripe, the judge did not rule on the merits of the suit’s claims.

The A’s have the approval of Major League Baseball to move to Las Vegas, and they are expected to begin playing games in a new stadium on the Las Vegas Strip for the 2028 season.

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