NEW ORLEANS – A property owner has filed a suit against the city in order to gain tax exempt status for properties it claims are used for cultural activities and do not generate income for the owner.
Stan-M Inc. filed suit against the City of New Orleans Department of Finance in the Orleans Parish Civil District Court on June 12.
The plaintiff claims its application for tax-exempt status on three properties was improperly denied by the defendant. Stan-M Inc. asserts that the defendant denied application due to the fact that the plaintiff is not a non-profit organization, however did not take into account other property exemptions under the Louisiana Constitution.
The plaintiff asserts that the property in question fits under the exemption for property used for cultural activities that are not operated for profit to the owners. Stan-M Inc. purports that the properties in question are used to maintain, preserve, and display the culture and art of African-American people in this area. The plaintiff also claims to not generate any income from the property and that Southern University is using the property for educational purposes, thus denial of tax-exempt status was in error.
The defendant is accused of improperly denying the plaintiff’s application for tax-exempt status.
The plaintiff is seeking to have the property in question classified as tax-exempt.
Stan-M Inc. is represented by attorney Scott J. Spivey from New Orleans.
The case has been assigned to Division N Judge Ethel S. Julien.
Case no. 2014-05844.
Property owner claims City of New Orleans erred when denying tax exempt application
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