Judge: City can proceed with O’Hare land buys

[LookManLook]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-051116ohare,1,4109129.story?coll=chi-news-hed&ctrack=1&cset=true


'A federal judge today threw out a lawsuit aimed at halting Chicago's $15 billion expansion of O'Hare International Airport, giving city officials a green light – for now – to buy houses and properties that stand in the way of the project.

U.S. District Judge David Coar acknowledged that the expansion would hurt some residents, but said opponents' legal arguments fell short. Reading a portion of his 33-page opinion from the bench, Coar said. "Simply because there is adverse effect, however, does not mean that expansion must be halted."

Coar dismissed a federal suit expansion opponents had filed in 2003. He refused to let them file a new, amended complaint, except for allowing them to seek additional documents under open records laws.

Lawyers for the city hailed the decision.

"It's a complete victory for the city," said Diane Pezanoski, a deputy corporation counsel for the city. "We are free to go forward with land acquisition."'