Judge Slaps SUNY With Restraining Order Barring LICH Closure

Citing a possible violation of New York's open meeting law, a Kings County Supreme Court judge slapped SUNY Downstate with a restraining order on Wednesday, barring the institution from moving forward with its plans to close one of its hospitals in Cobble Hill.

The Honorable Betsy Barros signed a temporary restraining order to stop the SUNY Board of Trustees or anyone acting on their behalf from taking any action to close LICH pending a further hearing on March 7.

"The respondents and all other persons, known or unknown, acting in their behalf or in concert with them in any manner or by any means, are hereby enjoined and restrained from: executing and implementing the approval of the Board of Trustees of the State University of New York by acting to close Long Island College Hospital," said Barros in her order.

The New York State Nurses Association, 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, and the Concerned Physicians of LICH, all expressed support of the decision.

"The vote to close LICH was premature, irresponsible and dangerous for Brooklyn patients and working families," said 1199SEIU president George Gresham. "While this injunction is in place we will continue to escalate our grassroots fight to keep LICH's vital healthcare services and good jobs in our community."

Elected officials also trumpeted the restraining order.

“This is great news”, said Council Member Letitia James. “It is necessary that we pause and further consider a decision will potentially affect many Brooklyn residents who depend on LICH’s health care services. I want to thank my colleagues and the many participants in the Coalition to Save LICH for their collaboration on this important issue.”

The restraining order comes on the heels of an announcement by SUNY Downstate President John Williams, stating that he had formally filed a proposal for closure with the NYS Department of Health on Tuesday.

In his letter to Legislators, Williams blamed financial pressures at SUNY on evolving Brooklyn healthcare costs and a large number of uninsured patients, among other reasons, causing many residents to react in disgust.

"We cannnot allow a hospital that has served the Brooklyn communities for over 150 years to close," commented Joseph Colombo on Patch. "This is unacceptable. We are faced with the sad choice of shutting down our hospitals because we cannot afford to take care of our under insured family. Sad indeed for New York State."

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