City Not Liable For Accepting False Deed

Owner’s house was fraudulently listed on the City register by a stranger who broke into the house and took possession. Jennifer Merin was left a house by a testamentary gift. The house is located at 226-08 141st Avenue in Queens County. In March of 2014, Darrell Beatty, without Merin’s knowledge, filed a fraudulent real property transfer report and a fraudulent deed with the City register that gave the property to himself. Beatty then broke … <Read More>


Tenant’s Fire-Injury Claim Goes To Trial

Tenant sued landlord over fire in his rent-stabilized apartment that had allegedly originated from inadequate wiring. James Daly, the tenant of a rent-stabilized studio apartment located at 9 East 36th Street in Manhattan, suffered injuries from a fire that occurred on June 19, 2013. The apartment, built in the 1930s, was 700 square feet consisting of a living area, a gallery kitchen, three closets, a bathroom, and a hall connecting the gallery kitchen to … <Read More>


Water Board Wins Rate Schedule Battle

Court of Appeals affirmed Water Board plan: credits to some, rate hikes for all. The New York City Water Board leases the reservoirs and water and sewage system from the City. Historically, the City tied the rental amount to the sum owed on the City’s water and sewer-related general obligation bonds. In 2003, however, the City began collecting rent above what was owed on the bonds. This increase led to a spike in water rates … <Read More>


Support Voiced for Designation of Central Harlem District

164-building potential district characterized by 19th-century residential architecture, and cultural and political history.            Landmarks held a public hearing on the potential designation of the Central Harlem West 130-132nd Historic District at its meeting on April 17, 2018. The district is composed of the block interiors on 130th, 131st, and 132nd Streets between Lenox Avenue and Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard. The district includes approximately 164 buildings, chiefly built during a brief period of development in … <Read More>


COMPLETE VIDEO: 154th CityLaw Breakfast & 4th Annual Civic Fame Award Presentation

At this morning’s  154th CityLaw Breakfast & 4th Annual Civic Fame Award Presentation we heard from featured speaker, Errol Louis, Host of Inside City Hall. Louis spoke about bringing changes to housing in the City to promote fair and affordable housing and reduce segregation in neighborhoods and schools.


5Pointz Artists Awarded $6.75 Million for Destroyed Artwork

After destruction of legendary 5Pointz artwork, artists receive substantial monetary award. On February 12, 2018, graffiti artists of the legendary 5Pointz site were awarded $6.75 million in damages for the wrongful and willful destruction of 45 works of art that once were displayed on the five-story buildings. The award comes after nearly five years of litigation between the graffiti artists and the owners of the 5Pointz buildings in Long Island City, Queens. To read CityLand’s … <Read More>