Judge dismisses part of lawsuit tied to redevelopment plans

CHARLESTOWN, Ind. (AP) - A federal judge has dismissed a portion of a lawsuit brought by landlords that alleged racketeering by a southern Indiana city related to a planned redevelopment project.

The News and Tribune reports U.S. District Court Sarah Evans Barker last week issued an order dismissing some of the allegations against Charlestown, Mayor Bob Hall and several other city employees or elected officials by landlords owning multiple properties in the Pleasant Ridge neighborhood.

The landlords sued last year , alleging that city leaders and a private developer conspired to extort the owners out of their properties by imposing new property maintenance codes, not enforcing the codes consistently and forcing them to sell below market prices.

Other claims remain, including alleged violations of the equal protection clause. The city says the lawsuit is unsubstantiated.

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Information from: News and Tribune, Jeffersonville, Ind., http://www.newsandtribune.com