Source: http://www.davidfrazerlaw.com/all-reported-cases/significant-cases/
Timestamp: 2019-04-24 06:13:45+00:00

Document:
In a case protecting the rights of tenants whose landlords illegally charged them market-rate rents while in receipt of “J-51” tax abatements, David convinced Housing Court Judge Jack Stoller to vacate a stipulation where a tenant agreed to pay the unlawful higher rent. In Clermont York Associates LLC v. Zgodny, David’s client initially appeared in court without an attorney and signed an agreement to pay the full market rent sought by the landlord. He subsequently retained David who used a recent appellate court decision to argue that the rent was improper and the tenant, who signed the agreement without benefit of an attorney, should not be evicted based upon an illegal rent. The victory means that David’s client will likely see his rent substantially reduced and will serve as a precedent for other tenants to reduce their rents as well. The decision merited a write up in the The New York Law Journal.
223-15 Realty Corp. v. Basse, et al., — Misc.3d –, — NYS2d –, 2012 NY Slip Op 22335 (Sup.Ct. Kings Co. 2012).
David won Loft Law coverage for four sets of tenants under the 2010 amendments and beat back the landlord’s attempt to evict the tenants. The landlord contended that the building could not be covered under the law because it could not be legalized. David showed that, not only was the building capable of being legalized, but he successfully argued legalization was separate from coverage under the law. The court dismissed the landlord’s ejectment action and referred the legalization issues to the Loft Board.
David successfully defended preliminary injunction stopping the eviction of a commercial tenant. The case represents a potentially significant expansion of the judicial protections available to commercial tenants by allowing them to seek a preliminary injunction staying an eviction even after the landlord has served a notice terminating the tenancy.
Acevedo v. Piano Building LLC, 70 AD3d 124, 891 NYS2d 41 (1st Dep’t 2009).
David won rent stabilization protection for tenants in a former Loft Law unit where the landlord had “bought out” the prior tenant and claimed the unit was free from all regulation. This case solidified and expanded the protections first established by David’s precedent-setting case, 182 Fifth Avenue, LLC v. Design Development Corp. [see below]. The decision was also featured in the New York Law Journal.
David was retained by the tenant’s attorney of record to argue appeal and he succeeded in establishing that rent-stabilized tenant could not be evicted because she had spent two years caring for her ill parents in California. The decision resulted in a front-page article in the New York Law Journal quoting David.
Little West 12th Street Realty, LP v. Inconiglios, 19 Misc.3d 508, 854 NYS2d 632 (Civ.Ct. NY Co. 2008), aff’d, 23 Misc.3d 28 (App.Term 1st Dep’t 2009) .
David won summary judgment finding a building in the Meat Packing District covered by the Loft Law, giving his client statutory protection from eviction and making him eligible for a potentially substantial rent overcharge award. David also successfully defended the lower court decision on appeal.
Forrester v. American Package Co., Inc., 55 AD3d 787, 869 NYS2d 547 (2d Dep’t 2008).
American Package Co., Inc. v. Kocik, 55 AD3d 762, 866 NYS2d 284 (2d Dep’t 2008).
In these four cases, David, representing residential loft tenants, defeated the landlord’s claim for rent or “use and occupancy” because the building lacked a proper certificate of occupancy.
In a precedent setting case, David established that the “illusory tenancy” doctrine applied to apartments covered by the Loft Law, enabling his clients, the victims of a rent overcharge scheme by the prime tenants, to argue that they were the lawful regulated tenants.
David prevented his client’s eviction and established that a landlord is bound by his lease renewal offer notwithstanding a proclaimed desire to occupy the apartment for himself or his family.
VVV Partnership v. Moran, 10 Misc.3d 130(A) App.Term 1st Dep’t 2005).
182 Fifth Avenue, LLC v. Design Development Concepts, Inc., 300 AD2d 198, 751 NYS2d 739 (1st Dep’t 2002). .
In these two cases, David established that tenants of lofts formerly covered by the Loft Law are protected by rent stabilization despite the landlord’s “buy out” of the prior tenant’s rights and a nominally “commercial” lease.
Wolinsky v. Kee Yip Realty, Inc., 2 NY3d 487, 779 NYS2d 812 (2004).
David represented the tenants in this precedent setting case from the Court of Appeals establishing parameters loft tenants’ rights under rent stabilization.
David won rent stabilization protection for the tenants and eventually negotiated a $1.4 million “buy out” for his clients.
David secured the first appellate decision holding that tenants of residential lofts not subject to the Loft Law could be protected by rent stabilization.
Shapiro v. DHCR, 262 AD2d 18, 690 NYS2d 583 (1st Dep’t 1999), aff’d sub nom., Elkin v. Roldan, 94 NY2d 853, 704 NYS2d 201 (1999).
David preserved his client’s rent-stabilized tenancy in a high-income deregulation proceeding [a/k/a “luxury deregulation”] by convincing every court – the trial court, the Appellate Division and the Court of Appeals – that tenant’s delay in filing answer to deregulation petition was excusable.
Phoenix Four, Inc. v. Albertini, 245 AD2d 166, 665 NYS2d 893 (1st Dep’t 1997).
David successfully argued that residential loft tenancies could be subject to rent stabilization, resulting in settlement that garnered his client a lifetime lease.
David obtained right of subtenant to conduct deposition of “prime tenant” and owner of building covered by the Loft Law, providing leverage for eventually $150,000 settlement.
David overturned a NYS Division of Housing and Community Renewal decision denying his client’s rent overcharge complaint by proving that landlord committed fraud. David eventually negotiated a $385,000 settlement of the overcharge claim.
For a complete list of reported cases litigated by David, see all cases.

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