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<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; After learning he lost his challenge to the purchase of the land for Wilkes-Barre Area School District&#8217;s new consolidated high school Tom Dombroski said he&#8217;s considering his next step.</p><p>District Justice David Barilla Friday issued a judgment for the school district, two days after hearing the case in which Dombroski of Dallas represented himself.</p><p>Dombroski sought $12,000, the maximum allowed in magisterial court, alleging he suffered damages as a property owner in Wilkes-Barre because the school board paid $4.25 million, too much when the highest appraised value for more than 70 acres of reclaimed mine land in Plains Township was $800,000.</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s not over by any stretch of the imagination,&#8221; Dombroski said.</p><p>Dombroski said he&#8217;s been in contact with a law firm from Philadelphia about possible litigation.</p><p>Wendolowski said: &#8220;The magistrate made the correct decision.&#8221; He repeated a comment he made following Wednesday&#8217;s hearing that Dombroski, as a taxpayer, did not have legal standing &#8220;to question the wisdom of the board in acquiring the parcel.&#8221;</p><p>Wendolowski had explained that Dombroski can contest the board&#8217;s actions if it allegedly deprived him of a constitutional right. &#8220;Clearly there&#8217;s none here,&#8221; he added.</p><p>Dombroski said he disagreed with Wendolowski and had no faith in the board.</p><p>&#8220;The board decisions at that particular school district have no legal value, as far as I&#8217;m concerned,&#8221; Dombroski said.</p><p>The ruling came down the same day the district broke ground for the new school. Dombroski pointed out that he supports the project and his fight is over the land purchase.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Tom Dombroski, right, shown having a discussion with Wilkes-Barre Area School District Superintendent Brian Costello, left, lost his case against the district over the purchase of land for the new consolidated high school in Plains Township. Times Leader file photo

</div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/web1_20181003_080531-2-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Tom Dombroski, right, shown having a discussion with Wilkes-Barre Area School District Superintendent Brian Costello, left, lost his case against the district over the purchase of land for the new consolidated high school in Plains Township. Times Leader file photo

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<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Jerry Lynott</p><p>jlynott@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Jerry Lynott at 570-991-6120 or on Twitter @TLJerryLynott.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Magistrate rules in favor of Wilkes-Barre Area School District in taxpayer complaint