TRENTON – The state’s attempt to halt a lawsuit brought by the New York football teams over the massive American Dream mall project has been denied by a Superior Court judge.
Superior Court in Bergen County ruled against the state Sports and Exposition Authority, Triple Five Worldwide Development, and Ameream Developer, who sought to stop the NFL’s Giants and Jets from suing over the megamall project in East Rutherford.
The judge in the case also ruled against the teams’ attempt to prevent construction of the mall in a decision handed down Monday.
At the heart of the dispute is the teams’ argument that the traffic generated by the mall coupled with the traffic at the football stadium will create insurmountable problems.
The teams and the New Meadowlands Stadium have sued, claiming that a contract has been violated. They say it dates to when the project was still known as Xanadu, and that it provides that any changes that would have an adverse effect on the teams would require the teams’ approval.
The court urges the parties to proceed to mediation in good faith because of the extensive public interest.
“Failing the same, though, this court intends, and fully expects, to bring this matter to a final resolution within one year of the filing of the complaint. Hopefully, if not necessarily expectedly, this shall be unnecessary,” the court stated.
The judge stated that the court will have to determine whether a breach of contract occurred because of modifications to the mall proposal.