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The Minnesota Supreme Court has thrown out a legal challenge to the state's financing plan for a new Vikings stadium.

An order issued this afternoon dismissed former Minneapolis mayoral candidate Doug Mann's request to block the sale of $468 million in bonds to finance the stadium's construction.

The court said Mann can't appeal to the Supreme Court first, and that a proper challenge, called a "bond validation proceeding," hasn't been started.

"Based on the record, we hold that the petitioners have not demonstrated that they do not have an adequate remedy at law," the court wrote, referring to another legal challenge that Mann filed  -- and lost -- in Hennepin County District Court last year.

The state Court of Appeals also turned aside that challenge today. The court said Mann failed to bring a timely appeal or challenge stadium financing through proper legal channels. Mann asked a judge to order Minneapolis to put its $150 million share of stadium financing to voters last year, a request that was denied Nov. 14.

The orders appear to clear the way for the bond sale that will allow the state to pay its construction bills for January and keep construction going on the new stadium.

Gov. Mark Dayton hailed the decision in a late afternoon statement:

Minnesota Management and Budget Commissioner Jim Schowalter said in an emailed statement that he's pleased with the quick ruling from the court.

Doug Mann, reached late Tuesday, said he was not surprised at the Minnesota Supreme Court's decision.  He also said he still believes the arguments his case made were strong.  Nevertheless, he said "this is probably it.

"I don’t think it very likely the Supreme Court will agree to review this. Spending the $550 might be throwing money out the window," Mann said.

Check back to Stadium Watch for more updates.

Tim Nelson

Author

The decision Tuesday clears a late obstacle that threatened to hold up construction and delay a planned 2016 opening. Minnesota finance officials postponed a $468 million bond sale while the case was pending. 

Minn. Supreme Court dismisses Vikings stadium suit

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