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Lawsuit Questions Who Owns The Marlins

MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Miami Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria spent big money during the offseason to improve his ballclub. But a lawsuit against the team claims that it was another groups big spending that actually made them the true owners of the Marlins.

According to the lawsuit, first reportd by the website sportinlaw.com, the Omeranz & Landsma Corporation claims it bought the Marlins for $10 million at the organization's Fourth Annual Awards Banquet at the Diplomat Country Club & Spa in Hallandale Beach in 2008.

The lawsuit claimed a "major component of the Awards Banquet was an auction, which was open and advertised to the public at large."

The suit claims Marlins president David Samson started the auction by "offering for sale, the Florida Marlins baseball organization, n/k/a the 'Miami Marlins' and opened the bidding to anyone who would bid Ten Million Dollars ($10,000,000).

Omeranz & Landsma Corporation said it made a good faith bid and that bidding was closed and that the highest, and only bid, came from Omeranz & Landsma.

The O&L Corporation accused the Marlins of failing to comply with the terms of the Contract and wants a jury trial if possible.

The lawsuit was filed by the Zebersky & Payne law firm in Fort Lauderdale.

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