STCC Letter

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Dear STCC Supporter – Attached for your convenience is the ruling of the Oklahoma Supreme Court (click HERE to view). This ruling reverses the trial court’s earlier ruling in favor of the City of Jenks and IVI and instructs the trial court to enter a judgment in favor of STCC. Of considerable importance is the fact that this is a unanimous, 9-0 decision. It is not every day that a unanimous opinion is issued by the Supreme Court. Of STCC’s ten or so causes of action against the City of Jenks and IVI, the Supreme Court’s reversal is only based on a couple of these causes of action. This in no way vindicates the City of Jenks or IVI on any of the other causes of action. The Supreme Court simply did not address them. As stated by the Supreme Court in footnote 28 of the opinion “[b]ecause we reverse the order of the trial court on these grounds, we need not address the Coalition’s other claims.” For those too busy to read the entire opinion, the conclusion of the Supreme Court is as follows: “The intention of the Legislature in permitting the creation of public trusts and transportation authorities for toll road construction is that because toll roads and bridges by their nature connect various municipalities, towns, and counties, such sovereigns must consolidate their authority to construct toll roads and bridges. However, the Legislature intended that the municipalities, towns, or counties that form the public trusts or transportation authorities be the ones in which the toll road or bridge is to be constructed. If we were to adopt the City of Jenks’ and IVI’s] arguments, what would prevent Jenks…from granting IVI the right to build a toll bridge across the Oklahoma River in Oklahoma County?” While we could go on and on analyzing the Supreme Court’s opinion, the bottom line is that no bridge will be built without the City of Tulsa’s involvement and ultimate approval. So, where does STCC go from here? We will keep our eyes and ears open for any future developments regarding a bridge in South Tulsa and keep you apprised of any such news. We are also currently discussing with our attorney’s the possibility of attempting to recover some (if not all) of our attorney’s fees and costs in this matter. If our attorney’s believe that it is probable that we will be successful in these efforts, STCC will proceed accordingly. In closing, STCC would like to thank all of its supporters. Whether you donated $1 or over $10,000, or whether you donated your time by getting petitions signed, telling your neighbors or co-workers about our cause or simply forwarded our e-mails to your colleagues, STCC simply could not have been successful without you! Further, STCC would like to thank its outside attorneys George Gibbs and Kevin Hoskins with the law firm of Gibbs, Armstrong, Borochoff, Mullican & Hart. Job well done gentlemen! Thank you again. Michael Covey Spokesman for STCC
• Disclaimer •

Dear STCC Supporter –

Attached for your convenience is the ruling of the Oklahoma Supreme Court (click HERE to view). This ruling reverses the trial court’s earlier ruling in favor of the City of Jenks and IVI and instructs the trial court to enter a judgment in favor of STCC. Of considerable importance is the fact that this is a unanimous, 9-0 decision. It is not every day that a unanimous opinion is issued by the Supreme Court.

Of STCC’s ten or so causes of action against the City of Jenks and IVI, the Supreme Court’s reversal is only based on a couple of these causes of action. This in no way vindicates the City of Jenks or IVI on any of the other causes of action. The Supreme Court simply did not address them. As stated by the Supreme Court in footnote 28 of the opinion “[b]ecause we reverse the order of the trial court on these grounds, we need not address the Coalition’s other claims.”

For those too busy to read the entire opinion, the conclusion of the Supreme Court is as follows: “The intention of the Legislature in permitting the creation of public trusts and transportation authorities for toll road construction is that because toll roads and bridges by their nature connect various municipalities, towns, and counties, such sovereigns must consolidate their authority to construct toll roads and bridges. However, the Legislature intended that the municipalities, towns, or counties that form the public trusts or transportation authorities be the ones in which the toll road or bridge is to be constructed. If we were to adopt the City of Jenks’ and IVI’s] arguments, what would prevent Jenks…from granting IVI the right to build a toll bridge across the Oklahoma River in Oklahoma County?” While we could go on and on analyzing the Supreme Court’s opinion, the bottom line is that no bridge will be built without the City of Tulsa’s involvement and ultimate approval.

So, where does STCC go from here? We will keep our eyes and ears open for any future developments regarding a bridge in South Tulsa and keep you apprised of any such news. We are also currently discussing with our attorney’s the possibility of attempting to recover some (if not all) of our attorney’s fees and costs in this matter. If our attorney’s believe that it is probable that we will be successful in these efforts, STCC will proceed accordingly.

In closing, STCC would like to thank all of its supporters. Whether you donated $1 or over $10,000, or whether you donated your time by getting petitions signed, telling your neighbors or co-workers about our cause or simply forwarded our e-mails to your colleagues, STCC simply could not have been successful without you! Further, STCC would like to thank its outside attorneys George Gibbs and Kevin Hoskins with the law firm of Gibbs, Armstrong, Borochoff, Mullican & Hart. Job well done gentlemen!

Thank you again.

Michael Covey

Spokesman for STCC