Forest Hills Homeowners Group Seeks to Halt Concerts at Forest Hills Stadium
A Forest Hills homeowners group has filed a motion for a preliminary injunction against the operators of Forest Hills Stadium due to the “harms caused” by the yearly concert series at the stadium.
Background
Forest Hills Garden Corp (FHGC), a homeowners association whose members live by the venue, has filed a motion against West Side Tennis Club (WSTC), which owns the stadium and leases the venue to concert operators. The motion aims to immediately prohibit WSTC from licensing, authorizing, or allowing any concerts to take place at the stadium.
Claims of Harm
FHGC said it is taking legal action due to the “severe and irreparable harm that the concerts are causing to the community,” stating that concerts generate excessive noise late at night and impair residents’ access to their homes.
Anthony Oprisiu, president of the FHGC Board of Directors, noted that a “record-breaking 37 events took place at the stadium during the 2024 season,” stating that the events disrupted the daily lives of residents who live near the stadium.
Complaints
FHGC outlined a litany of complaints in the motion, stating that concertgoers frequently trespass and urinate on private property. The homeowner’s association additionally alleged that illegal sales of nitrous oxide cartridges take place outside the venues and accused concertgoers of leaving trash on the streets or in private yards.
The group also accused private security guards of blocking access to private streets during events at the venue.
Legal Response
Akiva Shapiro, an attorney representing WSTC, accused Oprisiu of lying to FHGC members and wasting the organization’s money on “needless litigation.”
Shapiro pointed to the fact that Queens County Supreme Court Judge Joseph J. Esposito recently dismissed five of seven claims brought against West Side Tennis Club by FHGC, including claims of trespassing and zoning violations. Esposito did not dismiss claims of public and private nuisance, with both claims set to be determined at some point in 2025.
Conclusion
The motion for a preliminary injunction is the latest in a series of disputes between FHGC and the operators of Forest Hills Stadium since May 2023, when FHGC first filed a number of claims against the stadium.
The outcome of this motion will determine whether the concerts at Forest Hills Stadium will continue or be halted. The decision will also have significant implications for the local community, with some residents arguing that the concerts are a source of revenue and entertainment, while others claim that they are a source of disruption and harm.
FAQs
Q: What is the reason behind FHGC’s motion for a preliminary injunction?
A: FHGC is seeking to halt the concerts at Forest Hills Stadium due to the “severe and irreparable harm” caused by the events, including excessive noise and impairment of residents’ access to their homes.
Q: What is the response of WSTC and Tiebreaker Productions to FHGC’s motion?
A: WSTC and Tiebreaker Productions have accused FHGC of lying to its members and wasting the organization’s money on “needless litigation.” They have also pointed to the fact that five of seven claims brought against them by FHGC have been dismissed by the court.
Q: What is the outcome of this motion likely to be?
A: The outcome of this motion is uncertain, but it is likely to have significant implications for the local community and the future of concerts at Forest Hills Stadium.
Q: What is the next step in this legal dispute?
A: The court will consider FHGC’s motion for a preliminary injunction and may issue a ruling on whether to grant the injunction. If the motion is granted, the concerts at Forest Hills Stadium may be halted. If the motion is denied, the legal dispute will continue, with both sides presenting their arguments in court.
