"Company sues Florida Airport"

Tuesday, August 8, 2006

Company sues Airport Authority
BY BRIAN NEILL
The Bradenton (FL) Herald


An Orlando-based company specializing in audio and visual systems has filed
suit against the Sarasota-Manatee Airport Authority, claiming the authority
violated bidding procedures in selecting a contractor to install a
public-address system at the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport.

An attorney for Pro Sound Inc. filed the suit in Manatee County Circuit
Court last week. The suit alleges that Pro Sound, one of three companies
vying for the project, was the only bidder licensed as a contractor in the
state of Florida.

The suit maintains that the airport violated state law by awarding the bid
to Ohio-based Com-Net, a contractor that is not licensed in Florida.

Pro Sound is seeking injunctive relief until its case can be heard. The
company is also seeking attorney's fees.

The complaint contains a letter written by Mitchell Palmer, an attorney who
reviewed Pro Sound's bid protest on the airport's behalf.

In the letter, Palmer stated that because the winning bidder, Com-Net,
planned to use a Florida-licensed sub-contractor to conduct the work, the
airport was not violating the law and Pro Sound's bid protest should be
denied.

Thomas R. Shahady, the attorney representing Pro Sound, said Palmer's
assessment is incorrect.

"There's case law to support our position that an unlicensed contractor
cannot bid on a job," Shahady said. "So contrary to what he says, we think
he is incorrect."

Shahady said his client hopes to either be awarded the bid or have the
contract rebid by the airport.

"They (the airport) have the right in their bid package to reject all bids,"
Shahady said.

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