Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Claiming CLT Airport Cab Contracts Corrupt
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CHARLOTTE, NC — Thursday marked the close of another scandal surrounding ex-mayor Patrick Cannon.
In 2011, Charlotte City Council chose three cab companies to work the airport. It’s a lucrative job, and Universal and Diamond cab companies filed two lawsuits because they say the bidding process was corrupt and that they lost money due to losing the contract.
“These particular drivers did not win the bid,” said Council Member Lawana Mayfield. “So, sometimes when you don’t win, you get upset.”
Council Member Mayfield was elected just when the two taxi companies began complaining in front of city council.
“There was a lot of concerns, and a lot of us asked for details,” said Mayfield.
The companies claimed then Mayor-ProTem Patrick Cannon corrupted the bidding process. Cannon is now serving federal prison time for accepting bribes.
Back in 2014, the cab companies told us he sent a middle man to make them an offer if they wanted to work the airport. The man, the owners told WCCB Charlotte, told them to give Cannon $10,000 to be included in the airport bidding process.
The owners say they declined the pay-to-play offer and filed suit against Cannon, former Aviation Director Jerry Orr, former CRVA CEO Time Newman and the Greater Charlotte Hospitality and Tourism Alliance President Mohammad Jenatian.
Thursday, Judge Louis Bledsoe, III decided Universal and Diamond lost money because the city council awarded the contracts to other companies. Other than Cannon, the cab owners had not accused any other council members of wrongdoing. The judge said the companies’ loss of money was due to the legal action of the city council, not the impropoer actions of any person named in the lawsuits.
As for how much taxpayers spent fighting the case, the city attorney is calculating that cost.
Owners declined to comment on the judge’s ruling.
