Case ID: ad3d_65/html/0480-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Freedman and Richter, JJ.,", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

(August 19, 2009)
    In the Matter of Israel Martinez, Appellant, v Frederic M. Umane et al., Respondents, and Grisela Lajara, Respondent. In the Matter of Grisela Lajara, Petitioner, v Israel Martinez et al., Respondents.
    [883 NYS2d 904]
   Judgement, Supreme Court, Bronx County (Robert G. Seewald, J.), entered August 14, 2009, affirmed for the reasons stated by Seewald, J., without costs or disbursements. Concur—Gonzalez, P.J., DeGrasse and Abdus-Salaam, JJ.

Freedman and Richter, JJ.,

dissent in a memorandum by

Freedman, J., as follows: I respectfully dissent and would reverse the decision of the court below. The record, as set forth in that court’s decision, raises serious questions concerning the objector’s standing. Other than a 16-year-old buff card, there was no evidence that objecting petitioner Grisela Lajara lived where she claimed she lived, and there was substantial evidence to the contrary. Her failure to respond to any subpoena issued by respondent, a letter addressed to her that was returned by the post office, the absence of her name on the apartment lease renewal or the income certification form, which is part of the record, and the testimony of the managing agent and of the executive director of the sponsor of the building presented prima facie evidence of nonresidency, to which no rebuttal evidence was adduced.