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ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLANTS Charles R. Shedlak Susan R. Hanson Edward P. Benchik Ethan C. McKinney South Bend, Indiana

ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEES Kathryn A. Brogan F.L. Dennis Logan Christopher M. Forrest Fort Wayne, Indiana ATTORNEYS FOR CITY OF FORT WAYNE Timothy A. Manges Carol Smith Fort Wayne, Indiana ATTORNEY FOR ALLEN COUNTY G. William Fishering Fort Wayne, Indiana AMICI CURIAE THE INDIANA ASSOCIATION OF CITIES AND TOWNS Thomas K. Downs Karen L. Arland Michael J. Lewinski Hilary G. Buttrick Indianapolis, Indiana

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In the

Indiana Supreme Court
_________________________________ No. 02S00-0409-CV-410 SMDFUND, INC., ET AL. Appellants (Plaintiffs below), v. FORT WAYNE-ALLEN COUNTY AIRPORT AUTHORITY, ET AL. Appellees (Defendants below). _________________________________ Appeal from the Allen Circuit Court, No. 02C01-0302-PL-12 The Honorable Thomas J. Felts, Judge _________________________________ On Petition To Transfer Pursuant to Indiana Appellate Rule 56(A) _________________________________ August 2, 2005

Boehm, Justice.

The plaintiffs challenge the constitutionality of the statute creating the Fort Wayne-Allen County Airport Authority. The Authority was created in 1985 pursuant to a statute the plaintiffs now contend violates the prohibition in the Indiana Constitution against special legislation. We hold that laches bars this claim. Factual and Procedural Background The Local Airport Authorities Act, Indiana Code section 8-22-3-1 et. seq. (2004), was first enacted in 1959. That act provides a means by which any county, city, town, or other municipal corporation may establish an airport authority. Under the act, the entity wishing to establish an airport authority adopts a resolution or ordinance establishing the authority. I.C.

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Indiana Law