Last-minute court order keeps LICH open – despite state approval of SUNY closure plan
SUNY Downstate forbidden from diverting ambulances from LICH
In a dramatic turn of events, Public Advocate Bill de Blasio on Friday successfully petitioned a judge for a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) blocking Long Island College Hospital’s immediate closure, despite a letter from the state Department of Health approving SUNY’s Downstate’s closure plan.
De Blasio planned to personally serve LICH administrators with the TRO at 5 p.m. on Friday, supported by State Senator Daniel Squadron, Assemblymember Joan Millman, Council Members Brad Lander and Stephen Levin and other elected officials.
Supreme Court Justice Johnny L. Baynes issued the TRO on the grounds that de Blasio’s filing demonstrated the “immediate and irreparable injury if Respondent’s [Downstate’] actions are not temporarily restrained until a hearing on a preliminary injunction, adding that the Downstate’s actions demonstrate “disregard for the Court’s orders and may interfere with protection of the status quo.”