Jay-Z and Cohorts Sued for $5 Billion Over Brooklyn Basketball Development

Posted by Eriq Gardner

Here's an odd lawsuit. A Brooklyn activist named Clive Campbell is suing Jay-Z, as well as developer Bruce Ratner and Barclays bank for $5 billion (yes, with a b) for planning to build a Frank Gehry-designed basketball arena for the Nets and more than 6,000 apartments.

According to the claim, the controversial Atlantic Yards project takes advantage of Barclays' alleged involvement in the African slave trade. Barclays "profited from the African Slave Trade and continue to profit from these gains, through a conspiracy dating back hundreds of years and continue to date to oppress Black people, enslave them, unlawfully deport them to all corners of the Earth," the complaint says.

Jay-Z is part owner of the New Jersey Nets, which will be moving to Brooklyn after the arena is built. Ratner is the developer behind the project and Barclays is putting up much of the money. The Atlantic Yards project has generated enormous local opposition, and Jay-Z has been a vocal supporter.

The suit seeks a “claim of lien” on the $5 billion for slavery reparations.