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Retro Metro lawsuit against Jackson dismissed

By Kaitlin Howell Aug 29, 2024 | 6:09 PM

JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – Retro Metro’s lawsuit against the City of Jackson has been dismissed, according to City Attorney Drew Martin.

In 2023, the City of Jackson vacated office space it had been using at the Metrocenter Mall due to deplorable conditions. Retro Metro, who owned the spaced, filed a lawsuit against the city for breach of lease, seeking an additional 10 years of payments, which would have totaled more than $4.5 million.

“Today, the federal court dismissed those breach of lease claims against the city. The federal court also dismissed various claims Retro Metro made against Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba, Council President Virgi Lindsay, and council members Brian Grizzell and Vernon Hartley,” said Martin. “This outcome supports our ongoing commitment to protect the health and safety of our city employees and the public.”

Retro Metro accused the city of racial discrimination for moving out and now renting a space from non-minority-owned businesses.

The city reported several issues for the move, including massive potholes in the parking lot, pests inside the building, mold and broken air conditioning units. The mayor said the move was not personally motivated, but it was an effort to do what’s best for the city.