In a case involving a dispute over the awarding of a contract for construction of a new jail in DeSoto County, the state Court of Appeals sided Tuesday with a trial judge who threw out the complaint in 2011.

The two losing bidders - Murphy & Sons Inc. and Panola Construction - contended the bidding process was unfair. They challenged bid requirements that stipulated a firm must have built at least two jails within the past five years at $8 million each. DeSoto County officials said they wanted a company experienced in jail construction

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The county awarded the jail construction contract to Flintco Construction Solutions in 2011.

Murphy & Sons and Panola Construction were disqualified from the process for failing to meet the experience requirements.

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