Denver International Airport's top attorney, Everett Martinez, has filed a federal lawsuit accusing city officials of misconduct with Key Lime Air, Park Hill Golf Course, and suggesting a baseless investigation to protect millions of dollars in federal funding for the airport. The lawsuit alleges that Martinez warned officials that their actions could violate the airport’s agreement to receive funding from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). He claims that city officials ignored his legal advice and then retaliated against him, leading to his administrative leave on March 11. Mayor Mike Johnston's spokesman, Jon Ewing, dismissed the allegations as "horse(expletive) from a disgruntled employee." The lawsuit also alleges that the land-swap deal to acquire the Park Hill golf course violated FAA rules and Martinez was instructed to withhold information about the developer receiving less than 155 acres of airport land in exchange for the city's land.