Va. lawyer asks to delay slavery museum hearing

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. (AP) — A Richmond-area attorney and House of Delegates member has signed on to represent the National Slavery Museum as Fredericksburg city officials try to sell the site to recoup back taxes.

The Free Lance-Star reports (http://bit.ly/W9BhZb) Del. Joe Morrissey filed paperwork in Fredericksburg this week seeking to delay a Monday hearing in the case. Attorneys for the city plan to ask a Circuit Court judge to appoint them as special commissioners for the sale of 38 acres that was gifted to the National Slavery Museum in 2002.

If the judge agrees, the property could be auctioned soon after.

The National Slavery Museum owes more than $300,000 in overdue real estate taxes.

Morrissey argues the property's $7 million assessed value is "grossly inflated," making the tax bill higher than it should be.

___

Information from: The Free Lance-Star, http://www.fredericksburg.com/