Lancaster, Pa. (November 13, 2007) The seven-member Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania today unanimously upheld a previous decision by Lancaster County Judge Joseph Madenspacher who granted a permanent injunction sought by the Lancaster County Convention Center Authority, the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Lancaster, and Penn Square Partners to prevent the county commissioners from enacting a pair of resolutions that would have eliminated the center's financing. This ruling marks the latest decision in numerous lawsuits brought against the project, all of which have failed.

In ruling against the appeal by Lancaster County Commissioners Dick Shellenberger and Molly Henderson and taxpayer April Koppenhaver who brought the suit, Commonwealth Court Judge Robert Simpson stated in the Court's conclusion, the chancellor [Judge Joseph Madenspacher] did not err in determining Plaintiffs [Lancaster County Convention Center Authority, The Redevelopment Authority of the City of Lancaster, and Penn Square Partners], established a clear right to relief inasmuch as the Guaranty is legal and binding on the County.

Mark Fitzgerald, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Penn Square General Corp., stated, "Today's decision by the Commonwealth Court assures that the project's forward momentum will continue. Construction is ongoing, and we look forward to working with the city and county elected officials as we go forward, and to opening the Marriott Lancaster at Penn Square and Lancaster County Convention Center in March of 2009." He added, "Today's decision also sends a strong message to the local community and to the many groups who have either already booked events or have expressed keen interest in utilizing the facility that Lancaster is on the move and that this facility will allow Lancaster to become a great destination for meetings and conventions."

The Lancaster County Convention Center Authority is constructing the 220,000-square-foot convention center and Penn Square Partners is developing the 300-room Marriott Lancaster at Penn Square hotel on the site of the former Watt & Shand department store. The Redevelopment Authority of the City of Lancaster owns the former store site and will own the hotel.

Penn Square Partners consists of general partner Penn Square General Corp., a High® companies affiliate, and Penn Square Ltd., LLC, an affiliate of Lancaster Newspapers, Inc.