The LICH legal battle continues
Baynes issues TRO
Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Johnny Lee Baynes issued a temporary restraining order late Monday afternoon, as the Eagle has reported, preventing the New York State Department of Health and the State University of New York’s Board of Trustees from executing a plan to close the embattled Long Island College Hospital.
On March 14, Baynes issued a ruling against the SUNY board stating that it violated the Open Meetings Law when it did not provide ample notice of a meeting to discuss the closing of LICH. In that March 14 decision, Baynes did not make any comment on the validity of the need to shut down LICH, and left the door open for the possible closure of LICH so long as procedures were followed.
Days after Baynes’ initial ruling, on March 19, the SUNY board voted again to close LICH citing financial troubles. Concerned that their beloved hospital will once again have its doors shut for good, the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) has filed a petition requesting that the SUNY board show cause explaining how the March 19 vote complied with relevant procedural law.