LONG BEACH : Investors’ Suit Says Lease on Queen Mary Is Illegal
An investment group that wanted to buy the Queen Mary filed a Superior Court lawsuit against the Long Beach City Council on Monday, alleging that it violated state law and the City Charter when it decided to award a new lease to operate the tourist attraction.
The Queen Mary Preservation Trust, which includes Long Beach and Orange County businessmen, is seeking a court order requiring the City Council to set aside its Dec. 22 decision to award a five-year lease to Queen Mary Partners Ltd.
The lawsuit alleges that the council violated state law by not properly publicizing a Dec. 8 meeting at which city officials met with prospective operators and buyers of the ship. It also alleges that the council violated the City Charter by not properly seeking bids to operate the ship.
Deputy City Manager Henry Taboada said he had not seen the lawsuit and could not comment.
The Queen Mary’s former operator, Walt Disney Co., did not renew its lease and closed the ship on Dec. 29. Queen Mary Partners plans to reopen the ship this month.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
