From the Lawrence Daily Journal-World for Dec. 21, 1987:

Local attorney Eugene Riling was filing suit against the city of Lawrence in Douglas County District Court. Riling, representing the downtown-based law firm of Riling, Norwood, Burkhead, Fairchild & Nitcher, said that fees levied by the city through the downtown Business Improvement District were “unjust, unreasonable, discriminatory, and grossly disproportionate to any benefits.” He was arguing that the state statute allowing cities to establish BIDs violated both the Kansas and United States constitutions. As the court considered the case, Riling asked for a temporary injunction preventing the city commission from approving a proposed contract with the Downtown Lawrence Association to administer the BID funds. He had also asked the court to prevent the city from collecting any further BID fees until the case was decided.