Case Name: In the Matter of Joseph Volpicelli et al, Respondents, v Nathan Leventhal, as Commissioner of Department of Rent and Housing Maintenance, Appellant
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1975-05-05
Citations: 48 A.D.2d 660
Docket Number: 
Parties: In the Matter of Joseph Volpicelli et al, Respondents, v Nathan Leventhal, as Commissioner of Department of Rent and Housing Maintenance, Appellant.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 48
Pages: 660–660

Head Matter:
In the Matter of Joseph Volpicelli et al, Respondents, v Nathan Leventhal, as Commissioner of Department of Rent and Housing Maintenance, Appellant.

Opinion:
In a proceeding pursuant to CPLR article 78 to review appellant's determination, dated June 26, 1973, which revoked the district rent director's order and denied petitioners' application for a certificate of eviction, the appeal is from a judgment of the Supreme Court, Kings County, entered September 12, 1974, which annulled the said determination and directed appellant to issue the certificate of eviction. Judgment reversed, on the law, with $20 costs and disbursements, determination confirmed and petition dismissed on the merits. The record substantiates the finding, as Special Term itself observed, of a retaliatory motive for seeking the apartment. In such instance, the commissioner's determination should not have been annulled (Matter of Santora v Temporary State Housing Rent Comm, 11 AD2d 776; Matter of Link v Caputa, 10 AD2d 882; Matter of Acevedo v Weaver, 6 AD2d 835). Proof that a landlord is motivated by an intention other than to gain a place in which to live negates good faith (cf. Matter of Rosenbluth v Finkelstein, 300 NY 402, 405). Such motivation is not overcome by the fact that the landlord may also intend to move. Gulotta, P. J., Rabin, Hopkins, Martuscello and Shapiro, JJ., concur.