Gina Passarella is staff writer for The Legal Intelligencer.

PHILADELPHIA-HSP Gaming, the parent company of the planned SugarHouse Casino, doesn't want to wait any longer to start construction of its facility on the riverfront in the Fishtown section of Philadelphia. The company last week filed a petition for review with the Pennsylvania Supreme Court along with an application for summary relief against City Council, the city of Philadelphia and the city planning commission to compel the approval of necessary zoning and permits.

Cozen O'Connor, Sprague & Sprague, Lamb McErlane and Levine Staller Sklar Chan Brown & Donnelly filed the petition on behalf of HSP Gaming. The company wants the high court to force City Council to put into action ordinances it passed before the licenses were given that created the new zoning classification Commercial Entertainment Districts.