STITA takes contract battle to state's high court
SEATTLE -- The Sea-Tac International Taxi Association is appealing to the state Supreme Court in its battle against the Port of Seattle.
STITA has asked the high court continue a stay that would prevent the port from signing a contract with Yellow Taxi. The state Court of Appeals granted a temporary injunction to the same effect in February.
"We hope the state Supreme Court will hear our case. We believe there are significant questions the court will be interested in addressing," said STITA spokesman Jesse Buttar.
STITA's battle with the port began after Yellow Cab won the port's first competitive bid last year, effectively ending an exclusive 20-year relationship with STITA. STITA had been serving Sea-Tac Airport since 1989, when the airport helped set up the company. Yellow Cab won the port's first competitive bid of $18.3 million, a sum $8 million greater than the bid STITA submitted.
STITA's complaint alleges the port conducted an unfair bidding process by requiring bidders to commit to pay at least 10 percent of their airport-based revenues to the port. The port had been charging a per-trip fee to cabs.
The port has maintained it held a fair bidding process, and has declined to make any amends.
A second lawsuit against the Port and Yellow Cab by Farwest Taxi was filed on Feb. 12. That suit alleges the port violated the state's Open Public Meetings Act by altering a proposed contract behind closed doors and without review by port commissioners.
STITA has asked the high court continue a stay that would prevent the port from signing a contract with Yellow Taxi. The state Court of Appeals granted a temporary injunction to the same effect in February.
"We hope the state Supreme Court will hear our case. We believe there are significant questions the court will be interested in addressing," said STITA spokesman Jesse Buttar.
STITA's battle with the port began after Yellow Cab won the port's first competitive bid last year, effectively ending an exclusive 20-year relationship with STITA. STITA had been serving Sea-Tac Airport since 1989, when the airport helped set up the company. Yellow Cab won the port's first competitive bid of $18.3 million, a sum $8 million greater than the bid STITA submitted.
STITA's complaint alleges the port conducted an unfair bidding process by requiring bidders to commit to pay at least 10 percent of their airport-based revenues to the port. The port had been charging a per-trip fee to cabs.
The port has maintained it held a fair bidding process, and has declined to make any amends.
A second lawsuit against the Port and Yellow Cab by Farwest Taxi was filed on Feb. 12. That suit alleges the port violated the state's Open Public Meetings Act by altering a proposed contract behind closed doors and without review by port commissioners.