Standing firm, the ESDC spokesperson tells GlobeSt.com that in fact, FCRC "did not misrepresent its position to ESDC, as it believed it had a valid assignment of Boymelgreen's lease hold interest in the premises. The courts, however, disagreed."

Regardless, the ruling is the latest in a volley of legal and financial obstacles creating roadblocks in the development and construction of Brooklyn's Atlantic Yards project.

While FCRC didn't return calls for comment by press time, a spokesperson from Boymelgreen's law firm, Herrick Feinstein, tells Globe St.com "the decision and all options are being reviewed."

Brody tells GlobeSt.com that while his client may not win in the end, the ruling at least provides an opportunity for discovery to see how far up the ladder they can go. "Boymelgreen illegally assigned the lease to Ratner," he says.

Brody says he and his client are now pushing for an eviction. Next, he says, they will ask for a hearing to establish the difference between the properties' present-day value and its former value when the lease was terminated in July 2006.

"The lower court had said [the original lease assignment] was wrong and it terminated the lease, but, it wouldn't give us a judgment of eviction," Brody says. "Further, it wouldn't give us a hearing of damages under the lease."

Brody says that under the lease, Weinstein "has the right to go in and inspect his property." But he adds Weinstein has even encountered difficulties when he visited his properties.

He says that Weinstein's desire has been to be left alone and to be allowed to own his property and develop it as he sees fit. "That's what this is really about for him," Brody says.

Nonetheless, over the past few years, some observers have questioned Weinstein's motives in the Atlantic Yards saga, including Boymelgreen. In March '07, after Weinstein had won the initial lawsuit, Boymelgreen told the Brooklyn Paper that "Weinstein is just pure business. Most people on the block just want to see how much they can take from Ratner." The Brooklyn Paper also quoted Boymelgreen as saying "if you ask Weinstein face to face, he'll say it, unless he has a good poker face."

To which Brody responds, "I find it amusing when billionaires are poking at millionaires." He adds that Weinstein's view through all this is that "he simply wants to own his buildings. He wants to own and operate his properties; that's what this is all about for him."