INTHESUPREMECOURT

STATEOFGEORGIA

LARRYSAVAGE,

Appellant,
v.
COBBMARIETTACOLISEUM
ANDEXHIBITHALLAUTHORITY,
ANDCOBBCOUNTY,GEORGIA

Appellees.

RICHARDPELLEGRINO,

Appellant,
v.
COBBMARIETTACOLISEUM
ANDEXHIBITHALLAUTHORITY,
ANDCOBBCOUNTY,GEORGIA

Appellees.

T.TUCKERHOBGOOD,

Appellant,
v.
COBBMARIETTACOLISEUM
ANDEXHIBITHALLAUTHORITY,
ANDCOBBCOUNTY,GEORGIA

Appellees.

CaseNo.S15A0277

CaseNo.S15A0278

CaseNo.S15A0279

AMICUSBRIEFOFLORENCOLLINS
LorenC.Collins
GeorgiaBarNo.141366
P.O.Box191022
Atlanta,GA31119

Introduction
AttorneyLorenCollinsrespectfullysubmitsthisbriefas
amicuscuriae
and
requeststhattheCourtreversetheorderoftheSuperiorCourtofCobbCounty
validatingtheissuanceofrevenuebondsfortheconstructionofamajorleague
baseballstadiumtobeoccupiedbytheAtlantaBravesprofessionalbaseballteam
(SunTrustPark).
IdentityandInterestofAmicusCuriae
AttorneyCollinsisaGeorgiataxpayerandaresidentofDeKalbCounty.
Hehasnofinancialinterestinthisactionorinthebondissuanceunderlyingit,
nordoeshehaveanyrelationshipswithanyoftheparties.Heis,however,an
outspokenopponentofpubliclyfinancedprofessionalsportsstadiums,andhis
interestinsubmittingthisbriefistodiscouragetheStateofGeorgiafrom
imitatingotherstatesinallowinghundredsofmillionstaxpayerdollarstobe
spentfortheprimarybenefitandprofitofprivatebusinessinterests.
ArgumentandCitationofAuthority
In
Smithv.State
,222Ga.552(1966),thiscourtstruckdownanissuanceof
revenuebondsinTelfairCounty,findingthatthebondshadbeenissuedfora
privateratherthanapublicpurpose.Inthecourseofreachingthisdecision,this

courtpaintedascenarioofthesortsofabusesthatmightresultifthecountys
bondswerepermitted:
Thisamendmentwouldpermitthecountytoissuebondsforapurely
privatepurposeforexample,tosecurefundstoconstructabuildingor
planttobeleasedtoandoccupiedbyanalreadyexistingandoperating
businesswithaperfectlyadequatebuildingwhichwouldperformthesame
functions,employthesamenumberofpeople,andaddnothingintheway
ofindustry,oralleviateunemployment,orotherwisecontributetothe
publicgood.

Id.
at555.Thisdescriptionisalmostprescientinhowuncannilyitdescribesthe
taxpayerfundedprovisionofSunTrustParkforthebenefitoftheAtlantaBraves
baseballteam.Thebondissuancebeforethiscourt,afterall,concernsfundsbeing
securedtoconstructastadium(SunTrustPark)tobeleasedtoandoccupiedbyan
alreadyexistingandoperatingbusiness(theAtlantaBraves)withaperfectly
adequatebuilding(TurnerField).Theonlyostensiblepublicgoodtobe
providedisthat
this
majorleaguebaseballstadiumwouldbelocatedatthe
intersectionofI285andI75,insteadofafifteenminutedrivesouth.

Theabovehypotheticalbuildingwas,in1966,framedasanexampleof

whatsortsofabusesmightresultfromallowingrevenuebondstofundprivate
purposes.Butin2015,itisnotsatireitisahalfbilliondollarreality,onethat
thiscourtisbeingaskedtoapprove.

Inreachingitsconclusionin
Smith
,thiscourtstatedthatWhatconstitutes

apublicuseorpurposeundertheConstitutionofGeorgiaisaquestionwhich
mustbedecidedbythecourtsofthisstate.
Id.
at554.Intheiramicusbrief,the
AtlantaNationalLeagueBaseballClub(Braves)volunteersseveralcase
citationstosupportitscontentionthatthenewHomeoftheBraveswould
actuallybeforthepublicbenefit.

WhiletheStatesofWashingtonandWisconsinarewellrepresentedinthe

Bravescitations,conspicuouslyabsent,however,areexamplesofGeorgia
caselawsupportingtheirargumentthataprofessionalbaseballstadium,reserved
forthenearexclusiveuseandbenefitofaforeigncorporationandthe
professionalathletesinitsemploy,isactuallyapublicbenefitforthetaxpaying
citizensfundingsaidstadium.OneexpectsthatiftheAtlantaBraveswere
capableofcitingGeorgialawthatsupportedtheirradicallyexpansivedefinition
ofpublicuse,theywouldhaveciteditinstead,theyarelimitedtopointingto
otherstatesthathavebeenexploitedbyotherprofessionalsportsteamsinthe
past.

Granted,theBravesamicusbriefdoesciteoneGeorgiacase,acasealso

citedthreetimesinappelleesresponsebrief:
Youngbloodv.State
,259Ga.864
(1990),thecasethatupheldthebondissuanceunderlyingthe
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soontobedemolishedGeorgiaDome.Althoughbothbriefspointto
Youngblood
assupportingthevalidityoftheIGAanditsbondissuance,neitherbriefmentions
theverynextsentenceinthecourtsdecision:
Wenotethatweexpresslylimit
thisholdingtothefactsandcircumstancesofthisappeal.
Id.
at867.Itwould
seemthatthecourtrecognizedhowitsholdingmightbeabused,andappellees
relianceonitnowjustifiessuchcaution.TofindthattheconstructionofSunTrust
Parkisapublicpurposeistodefinethephrasedownintomeaninglessnessa
countycouldhandtaxpayerdollarsovertoanybusinesswithaphysicalfootprint
inthecountyonthegroundsthatitwouldsimplyhaveemployees.Itfailsasa
publicpurposeevenifoneattemptstomeasureandbalancetheexpendituresand
rewardsoftheendeavor,becauseanypublicbenefitisinconsequentialcompared
tothehalfbilliondollarlargessebeingbestowedupontheAtlantaBraves
baseballclub.

Whetherintendedastongueincheeksarcasmoradisplayofbrazen

contemptforCobbtaxpayers,theBravesamicuscuriaebriefactuallycitestwo
publicationsthatundercutitsownclaimsandexposehowlittlepublicbenefit
thereisinthepublicfinancingofaprofessionalsportsstadium.Infootnote11,
theyciteanarticlebyMatthewGlansinthatveryarticle,Glanswrites
Supportersoftaxpayerfundingforstadiumshavelongclaimedthenewfacilities
4

actasenginesofneweconomicdevelopment,butseveraleconomicstudieshave
foundtheirinfluencetobelimitedandStadiumsubsidiesareapooruseof
taxpayerdollars.Theyrarelyrealizethebenefitstheirsupportersclaim,andthey
shifttaxrevenueawayfromwhereitisbetterutilized.1

Theninfootnote13,theBravesciteaBloombergarticletitled
InStadium

BuildingSpree,TaxpayersLose$4Billion
.Asstatedinthearticle,that$4billion
figurerepresentsthetaxpayersubsidiestobondholdersresultingfrom
professionalstadiumsusageoftaxfreemunicipalbonds.WithrespecttoDallas
CowboysownerJerryJones,thearticlestatesthatthisarrangementlowersthe
costoffinancing,givinghisteamthehighestrevenueintheNFLandmakingit
theleaguesmostvaluablefranchise.
2

Thus,eventheAtlantaBravesownpersuasiveauthorityillustrateshow

SunTrustParkis,overwhelmingly,aprivatebenefitforthemselves.3Thisis
hardlyanunexpectedconclusion.AppelleescomparethisProjecttoother

Glans,Matthew.
Research&Commentary:TaxpayerFundingofSportsFacilities
,HEARTLANDINSTITUTE
(Feb.2,2015,11:30PM),
http://heartland.org/policydocuments/researchcommentarytaxpayerfundingsportsfacilities
2
Kuriloff,Aaron&DarrellPreston.
InU.S.StadiumBuildingSpree,U.S.TaxpayersLose$4Billion
,BLOOMBERG
(Feb.2,2015,11:35PM),
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/20120905/instadiumbuildingspreeustaxpayerslose4billion
3
TheauthorcitedintheBravesfootnote12,JudithGrantLong,isherselfanoutspokencriticofpubliclyfinanced
stadiumdealsandthehiddencoststheyimposeonthetaxpayingpublic.
See
Kuriloff,Aaron.
S tadiumsCost
TaxpayersExtra$10Billion,HarvardsLongFinds
,BLOOMBERG(Feb.2,201511:40PM),
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/20121106/stadiumscosttaxpayersextra10billionharvardslongfind
s

revenuebondfundedprojectssuchasretailcomplexes,airports,andstormwater
facilities,butinallthoseinstancesandmore,evenwhentheremaybeabusiness
thatstandstobenefit,itsstillnotsonarrowastoonlyenvisionabenefitcapable
ofbeingexploitedbyonlyasinglebusiness.
Here,however,theprivatebusinessistheAtlantaBraves,andcanonlybe
theAtlantaBraves.WhentheBravesannouncedtheywereleavingTurnerField,
theCityofAtlantadidnottakelongtodecideteardownthestadiumandbuild
somethingelseinitsplaceamajorleaguebaseballstadiumhaseffectivelyno
functionormarketvaluewithoutamajorleaguebaseballteamtoplayinit.When
theBraveseventuallyleaveSunTrustParkonedayaftertheircontractexpires,
CobbCountyisincrediblyunlikelytohaveanyotherneedoruseforamajor
leaguestadium,andSunTrustParkwilleitherdecayintouselessnessorbe
destroyedandreplacedwithsomethingthatservesalegitimatepublicbenefit.
BecauselikeTurnerField,SunTrustParkwillnotexistforthebenefitofCobb
CountyoritstaxpayersitwillexistforthebenefitoftheAtlantaBraves.

CobbCounty,initsresponsebrief,contendsthattheSunTrustParkbonds

donotviolatetheGratuitiesClause.Itarguesthatthereisnogratuity,nogift,if
thetransactioninvolvesbargainedforconsiderations,andstatesthatthe
Authorityistoprovidevaluableconsideration,includingbearingasignificant
6

shareofthecostofconstructing,operating,andmaintainingtheProject,whereas
theBravesPartiesareobligatedtocompleteconstructionoftheProject,to
operatetheProjectforthetermoftheOperatingAgreement,andtocausethe
Bravesbaseballclubtoplaysubstantiallyallitshomegamesthere.
Thisisamasterpieceofobfuscation.Becausestrippedofitscreative
framing,whatCobbCountyisheresuggestingisthattheAuthoritys
considerationinthistransactionistospend$300million(plusinterest)of
taxpayerfundstobuildaprofessionalbaseballstadiumtothespecificationsofthe
AtlantaBraves,andtheAtlantaBravesconsiderationinreturn
istousethat
stadium
.TheBravesconsiderationistousethestadiumfortheBravesown
financialgain,whiletheCountysconsiderationistofinancethemajorityofthat
stadium.Inotherwords,CobbCountyhastakenwhatrealisticallyshouldbeseen
asthebeneficialgift(thelongtermuseofacustommadestadium),andpretends
thatitis,instead,thebargainedforconsideration.
Thisisanalogoustomygrandfatheragreeingtopayfortheconstructionof
mydreamhouse,andinreturnheasksthatIlivethereandenjoyit.Byany
reasonabledefinitionofgift,thatconstitutesagift.
EstateofWhittv.
CommissionerofInternalRevenue
,751F.2d1548(1985).4Myuseand
4

[T]hecourtalsoconcludedthatLoyd'sservicestohisparentswerenotabargainedforconsiderationforthe
conveyanceandthatthetransferofthepropertywasanintervivosgifttoLoyd.
Id.
at1553.

enjoymentofthehousehardlyconstitutescontractualconsiderationin
exchangeformygrandfathersoverwhelmingfinancialcontributiontoits
construction.ButthatispreciselythelogicAppeleesemploy,toavoidadmitting
theextentoftheenormousgratuitytheyarebestowingupontheAtlantaBraves.5
IfCobbCountywishestocontendthatthepresenceofaprofessionalsports
teamisliabletopromotetourismandthelocaleconomy6,thentheburdenmust
beuponCobbCountytodemonstratethatsuchapredictionis,infact,realistic.
BecauseasevidencedbytheBravesowncitedpublications,economicstudies
haverepeatedlyandconsistentlyfoundthatpubliclyfundedstadiumsarelosing
propositionsfortaxpayersinthelongrun,despitethesunnypredictionsthatthe
teamslobbyingarmsmakeupfront.Ifthelistofpersuasiveauthoritiesinthe
Bravesamicusbriefproveanything,itisthatprofessionalsportsteamsregularly
persuadecitiesandcountiestogivethemhundredsofmillionsofdollarsbasedon
promisesofincreasedtourismandimprovedeconomieswhereasthosecitations
donothingtoprovethattheteamseveractually
deliver
onthosepromises.To
wit,
LibertarianPartyofWis
.,citedfourtimesintheBravesbrief,concernsthe
5

Appelleesargumentalsohasthepotentialtorevolutionizecampaignfinancelaw:
COURT:YouadmitthatyouconstructedagolfcoursefortheexclusiveuseoftheSenator,atyourown
considerableexpense,followingtheSenatorsowndesigns,onlandthatyouown,butyoudenythiswasagift?
LOBBYIST:Yes,becausetheSenatoragreedtoplayalotofgolfonit.Webelievethattobefairconsideration.
Also,thepublicisallowedtovisitthecoursetowatchtheSenatorplaygolf,iftheypaytheSenatorforthe
privilege.WebelievethatshouldmakethegolfcoursearecreationalactivityfortheSenatorsconstituency.
6
AppelleescontentionthatthenewstadiumwillbringincreasedbenefitstotheStatebegscredulity,giventhe
closeproximityoftheBravescurrentstadium.

MilwaukeeBrewersMillerPark,andthatstadiumstandsasoneofthe
worst
dealsforataxpayingpublic.7ButwhileMillerParkhasbeenafinancial
boondoggleforthecitizensofMilwaukee,whohasprofitedhandsomelyfromit
nonetheless?TheMilwaukeeBrewers.Itshouldbenosurprise,then,thatthe
BravesandAppelleeswishthiscourttofollowtheirexample.
In
Smithv.State
,thiscourtfoundthatbecausetherewasnolegitimate
publicpurposebehindthebondfundedbuildings,andbecausethetitletothe
propertywouldbeheldbythecountyandthusexemptfromtaxesandtheinterest
onthebondswouldbesimilarlytaxexempt,thentheuseoftaxdollarstofund
therevenuebondissuancewasaviolationofthedueprocessandequalprotection
clausesoftheFourteenthAmendmentoftheU.S.Constitution.Thecourtcited
Carmichaelv.SouthernCoalCo.,
301U.S.495(1937)

forthisproposition,
whichstated"Underthe14thAmendmenttheStatetaxingpowercanbeexerted
onlytoeffectapublicpurposeanddoesnotembracetheraisingofrevenuefor
privatepurposes."
Smith
at556557.
Thus,eveniftheIGAandthebondissuancearepermissibleunderGeorgia
law,thecommitmentofmorethan$400millioninCobbtaxpayerdollarstothe
constructionofaprofessionalbaseballstadiumisstillaviolationofthe
7

Murphy,Bruce.
TheEternalStadiumTax
,URBANMILWAUKEE(Feb.2,2015,11:50PM),
http://urbanmilwaukee.com/2012/07/27/murphy%E2%80%99slawtheeternalstadiumtax/

FourteenthAmendment,whichsupersedesanypermissionsthattheGeorgiaCode
orConstitutionmightallow.TheSunTrustParkProjectisopenlyand
unapologeticallyauseofpublictaxmoniesforthebenefitofawealthyand
wellconnectedprivatecorporation,andanybenefittothepublicisonly
incidental.Topermitthisabuseofthepubliccoffersistoopenthedoorfor
greaterandgranderabusesinthefuture.Georgiahasnotyetmadethemistake
thatotherstateshave,andcreatedbindingprecedentthatallowsmonopolistic
professionalsportsleaguestoexploitthetaxpayingpublicundertheguiseoftheir
eventsbeingapublicpurpose,andGeorgiashouldnotmakethatmistakenow.

Conclusion

Forallthereasonsstatedherein,theundersignedrespectfullyrequeststhat

thisCourtreversetheSuperiorCourtsorderandthattheissuanceofrevenue
bondstofundtheconstructionofSunTrustParkshouldbedenied.

/s/LorenC.Collins

LorenC.Collins
GeorgiaBarNo.141366
P.O.Box191022
Atlanta,GA31119
Telephone:(678)5256738
Email:lorencollins@gmail.com

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CERTIFICATEOFSERVICE
IherebycertifythatIhavethis3rdofFebruary,2015,servedtheparties
withtheforegoingAmicusBrieftotheSupremeCourtofGeorgiabydepositinga
copyintheUnitedStatesMail,withadequatepostage,asfollows:
J.KevinMoore,Esq.
JohnMoore,Esq.
MooreIngramJohnson&Steele,LLP
326RoswellStreet
EmersonOverlook
Marietta,Georgia30060

BlakeC.Sharpton,Esq.
LeslyGaynorMurray,Esq.
ButlerSnowLLP
435SecondStreetSuite204
Macon,Georgia31201

ThomasW.Curvin,Esq.
MatthewW.Nichols,Esq.
SutherlandAsbill&BrennanLLP
999PeachtreeStreet,N.E.Suite2300
Atlanta,Georgia30309

D.VictorReynolds,Esq.
CobbCountyDistrictAttorney
70HaynesStreet
Marietta,Georgia30090

DeborahL.Dance,Esq.
LindaBrunt,Esq.
CobbCountyAttorney
100CherokeeStreetSuite350
Marietta,Georgia30090

ChristopherPeters,Esq.
1930BrownRidgeDrive
Marietta,Georgia30062

RichardA.Pellegrino,Esq.
6150S.GlennForest,S.W.
Mableton,Georgia301264816

T.TuckerHobgood,Esq.
DavidA.Rutherford,Esq.
VanessaWilkerson,Esq.
Hobgood&RutherfordLLC
600GalleriaParkway,Suite950
Atlanta,Georgia30339

JamesAllanRichardson,Esq.
2017ArborForestDrive,S.W.
Marietta,Georgia30064

GaryPelphrey,Esq.
Pelphrey&Pelphrey
830ValleyMeadeDrive,S.E.
Marietta,Georgia30067

H.BenjaminWilliams,Esq.
5307ElsieLane
Mableton,Georgia30126

11

LarryC.Willis
60OakmontDrive
Marietta,Georgia30064

JamesA.Strawn
992GentryLane
Marietta,Georgia30064

LarrySavage,Esq.
4226ColumnsDrive
Marietta,Georgia30067

/s/LorenC.Collins
LorenC.Collins
GeorgiaBarNo.141366
P.O.Box191022
Atlanta,GA31119
Telephone:(678)5256738
Email:lorencollins@gmail.com

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