Dixie Brewery’s future uncertain
“The brewery’s former owners, Joe and Kendra Bruno, have filed several lawsuits claiming the state violated their constitutional rights when it invoked eminent domain in 2011 to take the brewery and then transfer its property rights a year later to the VA. But their cases have lingered in state court for years without resolution.
As construction progresses, The Times-Picayune reports (http://bit.ly/105Wjav) the Brunos have filed a request for a preliminary injunction to stop the VA from demolishing any part of the 106-year-old building until previous claims are settled.
“Everyone I know supports the Veterans hospital including Dixie; they just want the state to treat them fairly,” said Robert Evans, the Brunos’ attorney.
LSU declined to comment and its Baton Rouge law firm, Roedel Parsons Koch Blache Balhoff & McCollister, did not respond to interview requests.
The VA also declined to comment, but spokeswoman Amanda Jones refuted Evans’ claim that they plan to demolish the old brewery.”
SF Gate 30 March 2013.