The Minnesota Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday that a former state lawmaker who's suing to block construction of a state Senate office building in St. Paul must post an $11 million bond if he wants to continue with his case.
Former Rep. Jim Knoblach, a Republican from St. Cloud, said he would appeal the ruling to the state Supreme Court. A three-judge Court of Appeals panel ruled that he must post the bond by next Tuesday, in order to cover costs if his lawsuit causes construction delays. The court is scheduled to hear arguments in the case in June.
The state asked for an even higher bond. Knoblach said he does not have $11 million, and said the appeal to the Supreme Court is likely his last option.
The building project, planned to be across University Ave. from the Capitol, is projected to cost $90 million with taxpayers picking up $77 million of that tab.
Knoblach's lawsuit contends that lawmakers violated constitutional procedure when they approved money for the project in a tax bill rather than a construction bill.
