Ex Parte AU Hotel, Ltd.

AU Hotel, Ltd., and Thelma Dixon petition this Court for a writ of mandamus directing the Covington County Circuit Court to vacate an order transferring this action to Lee County. We grant the petition.

This dispute arises out of a series of negotiations and resultant agreements regarding the construction and operation of a conference center and hotel on the campus of Auburn University. The facilities began operating in 1988. AU Hotel, Ltd., operates the hotel under a sublease agreement between it and the Industrial Development Board of the City of Auburn. Auburn University operates the…