Lansing, Michigan- The battle between the American Eagle Superstore and the city of Lansing over selling fireworks may come to a head soon when two judges issue rulings in two separate cases.

The outcomes may determine whether the Stajos family, the owners of the general store at the intersection of Larch and Oakland streets, continue to operate it or rent the 12,000-square-foot building to an adult superstore.

Ever since the city passed an ordinance in 2001 requiring a permit to sell fireworks, officials have tried to deny permits to American Eagle. James Stajos says each year his family spends $10,000 to $20,000 on legal fees to get a permit. He said they are tired of the hassle and expense.

On Wednesday, June 2, Ingham County Circuit Judge Paula Manderfield will decide whether the city mishandled American Eagle’s 2004 permit application. A piece of evidence in that case will be an affidavit by First Ward Councilman Harold Leeman accusing some city officials of prejudice against the Stajos family and of changing the fireworks ordinance specifically to inconvenience American Eagle.

Several community members spoke in support of American Eagle at the May 17 City Council meeting. Also at that meeting, Stajos submitted a petition bearing the signatures of 902 community members who hope American Eagle remains in Lansing.

“We want the store to stay,” says Deputy Mayor David Weiner, “but we have the legal issues to deal with.”

Weiner says that in early March, City Clerk Debbie Miner told Mayor Tony Benavides that citations issued to American Eagle in 2004 make it impossible to issue a permit.

On May 13, District Judge Louise Alderson ruled that the city improperly issued three citations to American Eagle in 2004 for selling sparklers. Alderson will decide June 13 if the citations should be dismissed.

Since Stajos’ father, Bill, opened American Eagle 25 years ago a number of disagreements over fireworks between the family and city officials have strained relations between them. Now, Stajos says the city has abused the 3-year-old permit application process in an effort to put his store out of business.

The city denied American Eagle’s 2004 permit in April based on several fireworks-related infractions it claims American Eagle committed over the past two years. The permit application was filed in the name of Stajos’ mother, Janet, a co-owner.

Stajos disputes all of those infractions and after a May 13 hearing into the validity of three citations which Stajos received early last July, Judge Alderson found they were issued improperly and ordered they not be used to deny Stajos’ permit.

Those citations were the city’s strongest argument against American Eagle Superstore and if they are thrown out, Janet Stajos’ record will be clear of fireworks-related offenses.