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SBU may not touch hotel parcel
Temporary injunction issued until AG responds to lawsuit in NYC
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A judge in Manhattan last Friday issued an injunction requiring the State University of New York to "insure no work is commenced including but not limited to interfering with existing trees and foliage" for the proposed hotel at Stony Brook University, according to the plaintiff's lawyer. At the same time, per the request of Attorney General Andrew Cuomo's office, Judge Marylin Diamond of the Supreme Court of New York County extended SUNY's deadline for responding to the Stony Brook Environmental Conservancy lawsuit to Mar. 26.
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| | | SBU President Dr. Samuel Stanley.
File photo (click for larger version) | |
"They can't touch [the land]," said attorney George Locker of Manhattan, representing SBEC in an effort to stop construction of a hotel and conference center at the main entrance to the SBU campus on Nicolls Road. Locker said the AG's office requested the conference with the judge to seek an extension of time to respond. Locker said he insisted SUNY be enjoined from proceeding with any disturbance of the land until at least the date of any extension.
Locker wrote in an email, "the Attorney General's office is conferring with [SBU President Dr. Samuel] Stanley, not SUNY." Asked to explain, Locker said ethical issues could be raised by Dr. Stanley's participation in the process. "Part of his compensation is from the Stony Brook Foundation," the attorney said, "a party in the case." Locker said the action "suggests continued poor judgement on SUNY's part."
A statement from SBU in response reads: "The University is advised that the court's order will have no impact on the timely completion of the environmental impact study. As President of SUNY Stony Brook, Dr. Stanley represents SUNY's interests on this campus. Accordingly, as with any litigation involving SUNY, he will continue to cooperate with the Office of the Attorney General to the fullest extent possible."
The attorney general's office had not responded to a request for comment by press time.
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