Jan 8, 2007 8:27 pm US/Central
Condo Owners Take SMU To Court Over Land Battle
by Tiani Jones
UNIVERSITY PARK (CBS 11 News) ―
The battle between SMU and condo owners is back in court. The fight is over land that could be the site for the George W. Bush Presidential Library.
A federal judge has already ruled against one of the owners. SMU has no plan to stop the demolition anytime soon.
"They've never stopped tearing it down, the whole time we've been in trial," said condo owner Gerry Jatton.
As the demolition slowly makes its way towards Jatton, it has chipped at the walls and at his confidence.
"I'm trying to keep a little faith in the judicial system," Jatton said.
Jatton and two other tenants have filed a motion in the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals. They are hoping that there's a court out there that will see their side.
"The facts that we presented to the judge, in every case and every trial, should have been in favor to us, but… politics," said Jatton.
The buildings are coming down regardless of what the last residents file. Now it's a matter of money. The holdouts say they want their share of land that could possibly hold a multi-million dollar presidential library.
"Just what's fair; that's always been the case the whole time," Jatton said.
Jatton plans on staying put until eviction papers are posted, but he's packing up his valuables in preparation. University Gardens is still his home, and he says he's not going anywhere.
"I'm going to stay and fight," he said.
SMU released it's official response to the situation by stating, "The former owners' efforts to prevent demolition through the courts have proven unsuccessful. Demolition will continue. The U.S. Marshal's Office will handle any matters related to SMU taking full possession of the former University Gardens Property."
(CBS 11 News)
