Judge Orders Bench Trial in Rochester City Lines Case
Rochester, MN - (KROC AM News) - An Olmsted County judge has denied a request from Rochester City Lines for a jury trial.
Judge Joseph Chase recently issued an order for a bench trial to resolve the protracted legal battle between the bus company and the City of Rochester.
Judge Chase previously issued an order that essentially dismissed the lawsuit filed by Rochester City Lines after it lost its contract as the provider of public transit services for the city in 2012. That decision was overturned earlier this year by the Minnesota Supreme Court, which ruled the company presented enough evidence to raise questions about whether the bidding and selection process for the contract was fair and unbiased.
In denying the request for a jury trial, Judge Chase found the remedy sought by Rochester City Lines would be to have the city’s current public transit contract with First Transit undone and the contract rebid. His ruling says that is something a jury cannot do under Minnesota law.
A trial date has not been set, and it’s not yet known if RCL intends to appeal the judge’s decision.
City Attorney Terry Adkins says the two sides recently met for a mediation session, but he says there was no progress made in settling the dispute.
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