Billboard company sues city | News

OXFORD, Miss. (AP) - An outdoor advertising company has sued the city of Oxford in federal and local courts to keep its billboards where they are.
    
The Oxford Eagle reports (http://bit.ly/KLDMIL) that the lawsuits by Lamar OCI South Corp. are in response to Oxford's 2004 change its sign ordinance to limit billboards to industrial-zoned areas only.
    
Lamar's lawsuit filed in federal court in Oxford contends the city is violating the company's First Amendment rights to free commercial speech.
    
In the separate lawsuit filed in Lafayette County Circuit Court, Lamar is seeking damages from the city if the federal court rules in the city's favor.
    
Lamar owns 18 billboards in Oxford, according to the suit.
    
The city contends it has a right to limit the number and size of signs inside of its city limits.
    
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Information from: Oxford Eagle, http://www.oxfordeagle.com

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