Another Convention Center Hotel Lawsuit

On Thursday, the Washington Convention and Sports Authority filed suit in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia for the purpose of freeing the planned Convention Center Hotel from the grasp of litigation. From the press release:

WASHINGTON CONVENTION AND SPORTS AUTHORITY FILES LAWSUIT OVER HEADQUARTERS HOTEL PROJECT

(Washington, DC) – Today, the Washington Convention and Sports Authority filed suit in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia against JBG Properties, Inc., Wardman Investor, L.L.C., CIM/Wardman, L.L.C., JBG Managing Partner Benjamin R. Jacobs and JBG Chief Development Officer Kenneth F. Finkelstein. The complaint, which contains six claims, alleges that the defendants unlawfully attempted to extort concessions from Marriott Hotel Services, Inc., in connection with the Wardman Park Hotel. The Authority further alleges that the defendants' actions have caused significant injury to the Authority’s rights and interests in the Convention Center Headquarters Hotel Project, located at 9th Street and Massachusetts Avenue, NW, adjacent to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

The Authority also has requested to intervene in a case currently before Superior Court Judge Natalie Combs Greene in which Wardman Investor and CIM/Wardman challenged aspects of the headquarters hotel, a planned 1,174-room Washington, DC Marriott Marquis.

"We intend to be aggressive in protecting the Authority’s interest to make this shovel-ready headquarters hotel project a reality,” said Gregory A. O'Dell, president and CEO of the Authority. “The new hotel is key to our ability to continue to compete as a premier convention destination. In addition, the District of Columbia will see immediate economic impact once this 40-month design-build construction project breaks ground.”