Matheson Loses Fight Against Miami Land Sale to David Beckham
The Florida Supreme Court declined to accept jurisdiction in the case, although the decision is in a way irrelevant as Beckham no longer is planning a soccer stadium in Overtown.
Bruce Matheson lost his fight against the sale of Miami land to David Beckham’s soccer group, although the outcome had no impact because the retired soccer star switched to another location for his Major League Soccer team.
Matheson, a descendant of a Miami pioneer family that over the years has donated land for public parks and the Miami Marine Stadium, challenged the sale of 2.79 acres for $9 million was illegal because it was a no-bid deal, meaning others couldn’t submit competing proposals for the land.
He sued Miami-Dade County and the Beckham affiliate, 0101 Miami Properties LLC, used to buy the land. He lost the Miami-Dade Circuit Court case as well as his appeal to the Third District Court of Appeal. The Supreme Court on Thursday declined to accept jurisdiction.
Matheson’s attorney, Richard Ovelmen, emphasized that the decision isn’t on the merits of the claim, just whether to hear it.
“They could have any reason to decline jurisdiction. It’s not a ruling on the merits,” said Ovelmen, a Carlton Fields shareholder in Miami.
The disputed land in Miami’s Overtown neighborhood at 678-690 NW Seventh St. and 566 NW Seventh Ave. north of the Miami River was sought to supplement other land Beckham’s group acquired.
Miami-Dade property records indicate the land is still owned by the county, although Beckham’s group could buy the property. Beckham and his partners have seven days to close if they choose, the county has said.
Soccer stadium representatives didn’t immediately return a request for comment whether they would pursue the site if their current plan to build a stadium on Miami’s Melreese golf course fails.
In its defense, the county said it was within its right to pursue the no-bid sale under a state exception for economic development.
Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Rodolfo Ruiz dismissed the case in November 2017, finding Matheson didn’t have the legal standing to challenge the sale. The Third District Court of Appeal affirmed the decision last October.
In his Dec. 21 petition to the Supreme Court, Matheson argued the Third DCA’s decision gutted the requirement for a competitive bidding for the sale of public land since most anything would fit the economic development rubric.
Beckham now has his sights set on Melreese, the city’s only public golf course east of Miami International Airport. Plans call for a 25,000-seat stadium, more than 1 million square feet of commercial development and a 750-room hotel.
Voters approved a 99-year lease last November for more than $3.5 million in annual rent and profit sharing.
Ovelmen, Carlton Fields shareholder Enrique Arana, associate Scott Byers in Miami and shareholder Peter Webster in Tallahassee represented Matheson.
The Beckham affiliate has been represented by Richard Perez, a Holland & Knight partner in Miami.