Facing a small mountain of legal papers, Justice Harold Tompkins of the State Supreme Court has indicated he doesn't expect to have a final decision in residents' cases against Southtown until sometime in July or later.

In a court session Wednesday, May 17, with six parties to the suits, Tompkins allowed an additional week for filing of papers in the cases, including affidavits and "sur-replies" – responses to earlier replies to briefs.

Speaking with Website NYC10044 after a court session Wednesday, May 17, Tompkins left the door open to further court sessions, but indicated that he may make a decision based on the papers without hearing oral arguments in the matter.

In the suits, three groups are challenging a RIOC decision approving the Hudson/Related plan for Southtown. RIRSD, (Editorial and additional photos) Roosevelt Islanders for Responsible Southtown Development (headed by Steve Marcus), and the Alternative Southtown Design Committee (headed by attorney Robert Chira) say the plans violate the Island's General Development Plan by encroaching on parkland. The Residents Association seeks to intervene in the suits on the same grounds. RIRSD and Chira say RIOC acted hastily, not following prescribed procedure in approving the plan.