Judge Dismisses Burbank Airport Suit

In a blow to Burbank airport officials Monday, a federal judge in effect upheld the constitutionality of a state law restricting airport expansion.

U.S. District Judge Lourdes G. Baird dismissed the case involving the airport governing board’s lawsuit against the city of Burbank, which contends that it has veto power over any plans by the board to expand the airport’s passenger terminal.

The judge held that the issue is outside federal jurisdiction, declaring it an open-and-shut decision. She did not rule on the substance of the long-running battle between Burbank and the airport board over expanding the terminal.

City officials, who for months have said in and out of court that provisions of the state Public Utilities Code give them veto power over airport construction within city borders, hailed the judge’s decision.