The 4th District Court of Appeal denied a request from Newport Beach-based Facilities Management West to reconsider its decision last month that halted the sale of the 150-acre Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa.

FMW sought the rehearing last month after the appellate court decided that the bidding process conducted by former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s administration was flawed. FMW had proposed to the court that the process be restarted with proper procedures for valuation and bid protests included.

In a decision made public Tuesday, the court disagreed.

FMW officials, who recently wrote an opinion piece on their plans for the property, were silent on the court decision.

The ruling effectively kills the FMW bid to purchase the fairgrounds unless the group appeals to the California Supreme Court and wins. Members of the FMW team said they are considering that option.

— NORBERTO SANTANA JR.

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