Updated

A Miami attorney says Florida's historic buyout of U.S. Sugar Corp. was illegal.

Dexter Lehtinen filed a lawsuit Friday in Circuit Court in Palm Beach County, claiming the $1.75 billion deal violated the state's Sunshine Law because it was brokered in secret, closed-door meetings.

Environmental advocates have hailed the deal because the state wants to use the land for Everglades restoration.

Lehtinen is an advocate for the Everglades, an attorney for Miccosukee Indians who live there, and the husband of Republican Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen.