Proposed Subpoena Targets Birmingham Mayor's Wife in Nebius Data Center Lawsuit
Residents opposing Nebius' planned hyperscale data center in Birmingham have sought subpoenas involving Mayor Randall Woodfin's wife, Kendra Woodfin, and her real estate firm as part of a lawsuit over the project's land transactions and permits. The litigation continues while construction proceeds, following the city's approval of tax incentives and new data center zoning restrictions, as well as a six-month moratorium that officials said did not apply to Nebius.
Residents near Birmingham's Oxmoor Valley data center project are pursuing discovery in a consolidated lawsuit against Nebius, Hoar Construction and the City of Birmingham. A proposed subpoena seeks records from Kendra Woodfin, the mayor's wife, and her brokerage, Iron City Premier Realty, regarding property transactions connected to the 80-acre site. Mayor Randall Woodfin denies that his wife or her firm was involved in the project, while the brokerage's attorney, Amaobi Enyinnia, argues the subpoena is an improper fishing expedition. A hearing before Jefferson County Circuit Court Judge Javan Patton Crayton is scheduled to address objections.
The lawsuit challenges the project's land purchase, permitting timeline and the city's determination that Nebius was exempt from a six-month moratorium enacted in March. Birmingham officials have said the site's existing mixed-use zoning allowed data centers, and the City Council later adopted an ordinance imposing 20 conditions on hyperscale facilities. The Birmingham Industrial Development Board also approved a 30-year tax abatement package for Nebius and Alabama ADC Holdings LLC.
Despite the litigation, Hoar Construction has received millions of dollars in permits and construction is underway. Nebius plans two buildings totaling about 450,000 square feet, with projected water use of roughly 700,000 gallons annually and 78 permanent jobs. The court case also includes disputes over subpoenas to other companies and questions about the validity of municipal approvals issued before the updated zoning ordinance took effect.