LISTEN: Owners of White Flint Mall to Appeal Ruling in Favor of Lord and Taylor

Heather Curtis
WMAL

WASHINGTON – (WMAL) The White Flint Mall saga continues despite last week’s judgement against the mall’s owner, Lerner Enterprises. The owner of White Flint Mall will appeal the ruling that calls for it to give Lord and Taylor $31 million for lost profits.

“The judgement places a huge burden on White Flint’s ability to obtain financing to proceed with phase 1 of re-development,” said Scott Morrison, the attorney for White Flint. Since the mall has been closed since early 2015, White Flint is not taking in any money.

The company has 30 days from the judgement to file an appeal. Morrison expects the process to take a year. In the meantime, redevelopment plans have been put on hold.

“Unless the judgement is reversed, it is highly unlikely that the redevelopment can proceed,” Morrison said adding White Flint would consider bankruptcy in that situation.

Morrison said losing the 800,000-square-foot mixed-use development would be a tragedy for Montgomery County and White Flint. It’s the largest site in the county’s sector plan and would attract between 12 to 17 million visitors a year.

The work would get underway immediately if the judgement is reversed.