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American Dream Developer Countersues Giants, Jets

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) - The developer of a New Jersey megamall project is countersuing the New York Giants and the New York Jets.

Developer Triple Five says the NFL teams are engaging in a ``campaign to delay, thwart and ultimately prevent'' the American Dream project from being built at the Meadowlands sports complex. The company says the teams are preventing it from getting permits to build on the land.

American Dream Developer Countersues Giants, Jets

"The need to take an affirmative step in protecting ours and the public's interest," Triple Five spokesperson Alan Marcus told WCBS 880 reporter Levon Putney. "We've exhausted our patience and tolerance for the interference that we've received."

Triple Five wants the court to dismiss a lawsuit the teams filed against it in May. The teams' suit seeks to stop Triple Five from expanding the $3 billion project, which is across Route 120 from MetLife Stadium. That expansion would include an indoor water park.

The teams say the mall expansion would create a traffic nightmare, but the developer says studies indicate no such thing would happen.

Marcus said Triple Five also wants the teams to pay for damages "which they have caused us through delay."

Triple Five says the teams are trying to keep a monopoly on the land and revenue around the sports complex.

The teams say they're ``disappointed'' and plan to ``vigorously pursue'' their court action.

"We think it's unfortunate," said Karen Kessler, a spokesperson for both football teams, adding that this latest action "basically flies in the face of the court's express prior ruling that said that the court would decide this breach of contract case."

Putney reported Triple Five still plans to go ahead with groundbreaking for the expansion next month.

The mall is not expected to open in time for the Super Bowl in 2014.

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(TM and © Copyright 2013 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2013 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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