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Florida properties fight city hall

Two south Florida chain hotels are in the middle of legal battles with local government officials.

The Westin Diplomat in Hollywood recently won a partial victory against Broward County. A special master ruled that on Jan. 1, 2002, the hotel was worth $323 million, $82 million less than the

county's assessment but $103 more than the hotel owner's estimate. The debate centers on the worth of the hotel on Jan. 1, 2002, the date to set real estate values for the year. The property didn't officially open until Jan. 31, 2002.

Further south, hotel owner R. Donahue Peebles is squabbling with the city of Miami Beach, which partnered with Peebles to build the Royal Palm Crowne Plaza Resort, the first majority-black-owned resort in the country. The two sides are negotiating over back rent, environmental cleanup costs and construction delays.

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How much was the Diplomat worth on Jan. 1, 2002?

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