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For
Immediate Release: February 16, 2006
Empire
State Development Corporation to Appeal Decision to
Disqualify Conflicted Attorney David Paget from Review of
Ratner's "Atlantic Yards"
Move By ESDC Raises Serious Questions About
Its Desire to Retain Lawyer
So Roundly Rebuked by
Justice Carol Edmead on Tuesday
MANHATTAN, NY - Develop Don't Destroy Brooklyn Inc. (DDDB) was
informed today that the Empire State Development Corporation
(ESDC) will appeal the
ruling of the Honorable Carol Edmead (Justice New York County
Supreme Court) that disqualified its attorney, David Paget,
from representing the ESDC with regard to Forest City Ratner's
(FCR) proposed "Atlantic Yards” development because of a clear
conflict of interest. The conflict involves Mr. Paget's representation
of Ratner for "Atlantic Yards" until October 2005 when he then
began representing the ESDC on the same development proposal.
Mr. Paget's firm, Sive, Paget and Riesel also represents Forest
City Ratner on other matters. DDDB was notified that the ESDC
will seek a stay from the Appellate Division of Justice Edmead's
order directing replacement of ESDC counsel within 45 days,
and will ask that the appeal be expedited.
After hearing oral argument on the issue this past Tuesday,
Justice Edmead commented from the bench that Mr. Paget's continued
representation of the ESDC gave a "severe, crippling appearance
of impropriety", and could not be countenanced under the ethical
rules of this State.
"You have to question why ESDC is fighting so hard to keep Mr.
Paget after the court has found that there is a hopeless conflict
between his representation of Ratner and ESDC, the agency charged
with an objective review of the project, and the power to exercise
eminent domain in the appropriate case. With so many attorneys
available to the ESDC, why wouldn't it simply retain another
attorney, and restore the public's faith that it is actually
acting in the public's best interest, rather than as Ratner's
collaborative partner?" said DDDB spokesman Daniel Goldstein.
The decision by ESDC to appeal will require that DDDB and the
community organizations that joined DDDB in this lawsuit to
not only defend the court's determination to oust Mr. Paget,
but also to defend the public's right to a fair and objective
review by the ESDC when reviewing any proposed development in
New York State.
"We initiated this litigation not just because of our deep concerns
about the project proposed by Ratner, but also because the environmental
review process, as executed by the ESDC, is stacked so heavily
in favor of developers, and against communities," said DDDB
legal chair Candace Carponter. "We are optimistic that the Appellate
Division will agree with Justice Edmead that 'business as usual'
at the ESDC is no longer acceptable when it comes to sharing
attorneys with developers."
DDDB and its co-plaintiffs are considering whether to appeal
Justice Edmead's determination to allow demolition of certain
buildings within the proposed project footprint to proceed–a
determination based solely on a report submitted by FCR and
reviewed by the conflicted lawyer, Mr. Paget.
For more on ESDC Chairman Charles Gargano and Ratner's "Atlantic
Yards" visit:
http://timesratnerreport.blogspot.com/2006/02/collaborative-arms-length-or-just.html
All lawsuit related documents and information can be found
at: http://www.dddb.net/litigation
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