En Banc PA Commonwealth Court Affirms Decision in Favor of URA Obtained by James G. McLean, Jordan M. Webster and Julie D. Meyers

An en banc Commonwealth Court recently issued an opinion affirming the decision in favor of the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) of Pittsburgh that had been obtained by James G. McLean, Jordan M. Webster and Julie D. Meyers after a three-day trial in the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County. The URA had been sued over allegations that its plans for a Produce Terminal building in the Strip District neighborhood of Pittsburgh violated a “best efforts” covenant provision in a 1981 Deed. In a 6-1 decision, the en banc Commonwealth Court agreed with the trial court that the URA had proven at trial that it had used its best efforts over the last 30 years, and that the Deed provision was no longer applicable due to changes in the neighborhood and the wholesale produce market.