Judge rules in Topgolf Carillon challenge
April 7, 2020 - A Pinellas County circuit judge has ruled that a lawsuit intended to stop construction of a Topolf in Carillon Office Park can move forward. Concerned Residents of Carillon LLC filed suit in November to stop construction of the driving range and restaurant, saying its members would be irreparably harmed by the project. Attorneys representing Topgolf and the property owners challenged the citizen group's standing in the case and asked the judge to dismiss the lawsuit during a court hearing in early March. Judge Thomas Ramsberger ruled on March 30 that the case can proceed as long as Concerned Residents of Carillon amends its complaint to provide more details about each member's basis for standing in the case. Attorneys for Topgolf and the property owners agreed not to make the names public. The attorneys for Topgolf and the property owners also argued the citizen group had failed to exhaust all its administrative remedies with the city of St. Petersburg, but the judge ruled that argument was not appropriate for a motion to dismiss since the attorneys were relying on information outside of the amended complaint.