Breaking News: Atlantic Yards Appeal Motion Filed

Attorneys for Develop Don’t Destroy Brooklyn and 15 co-plaintiffs have filed to appeal last month's Appellate Division decision overturning a State Supreme Court decision. The "motion for relief" was filed with state Court of Appeals. (Translation: They're asking the court to hear their appeal.) The case centers around an environmental lawyer who had represented Forest City Ratner on the Atlantic Yards proposal and later represented the Empire State Development Corp., which is the public agency involved in the environmental review of the project. The Appellate Division had found no conflict of interest in overturning a State Supreme Court decision in favor of Atlantic Yards opponents.

According to DDDB, the case presents "fundamental issues of governmental integrity and accountability in the context of an enormously controversial development project that will have a significant impact on hundreds of thousands of citizens and significantly change several Brooklyn neighborhoods."

The Court of Appeals, which is New York's highest court, must accept the case for a hearing.