A lawsuit has been filed in Miami-Dade County seeking to invalidate the transfer of a prime downtown Miami property intended for Donald Trump's presidential library. The legal challenge, brought by local activist Marvin Dunn, alleges that the Miami Dade College Board of Trustees violated Florida's open government laws during the process of relinquishing the land.
The nearly three-acre parcel, valued at more than $67 million, was transferred from the state-run college to the state of Florida, which then deeded it to a foundation controlled by the Trump family. The lawsuit contends the public was not given adequate notice of the board's intentions.
Key Takeaways
- A lawsuit alleges Miami Dade College violated Florida's open government law in a land transfer deal.
- The property, valued at over $67 million, was gifted for a potential Donald Trump presidential library.
- The legal challenge claims the college board's meeting agenda was vague and lacked transparency.
- The foundation receiving the land is controlled by Eric Trump, Michael Boulos, and attorney James Kiley.
Details of the Legal Challenge
The lawsuit filed by Marvin Dunn, a local historian and activist, centers on a special meeting held by the Miami Dade College Board of Trustees on September 23. According to the filing, the board failed to comply with Florida’s “Government in the Sunshine” law, which mandates transparency in public proceedings.
Dunn’s complaint argues that the meeting agenda was intentionally obscure. It stated only that the board would discuss conveying property to a state fund, without specifying which property or its intended purpose. This lack of detail, the lawsuit claims, prevented any meaningful public scrutiny or participation.
“No one not already in on the deal would have had any idea from this ‘notice’ of what the District Board of Trustees was actually planning to do,” the lawsuit states.
The lawsuit seeks an injunction to block the land transfer, arguing that the decision made during the meeting is void due to the alleged procedural violations. Representatives for Miami Dade College have not yet issued a public comment on the litigation.
The Controversial Meeting
Several aspects of the September 23 meeting have drawn scrutiny. It was scheduled for 8 a.m. and, unlike every other board meeting held this year, it was not livestreamed for public viewing. This departure from standard practice further limited public access to the board's deliberations.
The timeline of events on that day is a central part of the lawsuit's argument. Just 14 minutes after the meeting began, Governor Ron DeSantis's press office issued a release announcing his proposal to gift the land for the Trump presidential library. A week later, the governor and the Florida Cabinet officially approved the transfer, deeding the property directly to the library's foundation.
Understanding Florida's Sunshine Law
Florida's Government in the Sunshine Law is one of the most comprehensive open government statutes in the United States. It requires that all meetings of public boards or commissions where official acts are to be taken must be open to the public. The law also mandates that the public receive “reasonable notice” of such meetings, a standard the lawsuit claims was not met in this case.
A High-Value Property
Valuation and Location
The property at the center of the dispute is a highly coveted piece of real estate in downtown Miami. Located on Biscayne Boulevard, the undeveloped lot spans nearly three acres and offers views of a waterfront park. It sits directly across the street from the Kaseya Center, home of the Miami Heat basketball team, and is surrounded by luxury condominium towers.
Property Assessment
According to a 2025 assessment from the Miami-Dade County property appraiser, the land has a market value of more than $67 million. However, real estate experts suggest its true sale price on the open market could be significantly higher, potentially reaching hundreds of millions of dollars due to its prime location and development potential.
For years, Miami Dade College used the parcel as an employee parking lot. A 2006 report from Miami News indicated that the property was once considered for a major expansion of the college's downtown campus, a plan that never materialized.
The Foundation and Future Plans
The land was deeded to the foundation established to develop the presidential library. The foundation's leadership consists of three trustees with close ties to the former president:
- Eric Trump, his son.
- Michael Boulos, his son-in-law, married to Tiffany Trump.
- James Kiley, his attorney.
The terms of the land transfer agreement are relatively broad. The deal stipulates that the property must include “components” of a presidential library or center. It also sets a deadline for the commencement of construction, which must begin within five years of the transfer.
Governor DeSantis has publicly stated that a presidential library could bring benefits to Miami Dade College, which is one of the largest higher education institutions in the country. However, the official land deal does not contain any legally binding commitments or guarantees of partnership or financial benefit for the college.
The lawsuit now places the future of this high-profile project in the hands of the Miami-Dade County court system, which will determine if the land transfer was conducted in accordance with state law.
