Court Affirms Billboard Ruling

A Maryland appeals court upheld a lower court ruling dismissing a lawsuit that sought to block a series of Clear Channel billboards on Baltimore’s 1st Mariner Arena.

In its December 27th ruling, the Maryland Court of Special Appeals affirmed an August 2003 circuit court decision that state courts did not have jurisdiction to hear the suit, according to The Baltimore Sun.

A group of Baltimore property owners had challenged a 2003 zoning change that allowed Clear Channel Outdoor and First Mariner Bancorp Chairman Ed Hale to build 14 billboards on the stadium in exchange for taking down 14 others in the city, the Sun said.

The property owners said the billboards were an “eyesore,” according to the paper. A federal suit is pending.