Federal judge dismisses DC Blox lawsuit over data center regulations, moratorium
A federal judge dismissed DC BLOX's lawsuit challenging Metro Nashville's data center moratorium and related regulations affecting its proposed facilities near the Nashville Zoo. Judge Eli Richardson found most claims unclear or outside federal jurisdiction and rejected the company's claim that Metro treated it unfairly compared with RadiusDC.
U.S. District Judge Eli Richardson dismissed a lawsuit filed by DC BLOX over Metro Nashville's moratorium and regulations governing data center development. DC BLOX had planned two data centers on property next to the Nashville Zoo and argued that the moratorium, adopted after it purchased the land, violated its constitutional and vested property rights.
Richardson dismissed eight of the nine claims, citing jurisdictional problems or a lack of clarity. He also rejected the company's argument that Metro treated it unfairly by allowing RadiusDC to obtain a permit, finding that RadiusDC's permit was a different type and was not subject to the moratorium. Metro Councilmember Courtney Johnston and Metro Nashville Director of Law Tyler Yarbro welcomed the ruling and defended the city's authority to regulate land uses and data center permitting.