1809-15 7th Avenue HDFC v. Bouey

47 Misc. 3d 396, 2 N.Y.S.3d 771
CourtCivil Court of the City of New York
DecidedJanuary 16, 2015
StatusPublished

This text of 47 Misc. 3d 396 (1809-15 7th Avenue HDFC v. Bouey) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Civil Court of the City of New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
1809-15 7th Avenue HDFC v. Bouey, 47 Misc. 3d 396, 2 N.Y.S.3d 771 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 2015).

Opinion

OPINION OF THE COURT

Sabrina B. Kraus, J.

Background

This summary nonpayment proceeding was commenced by 1809-15 7th Avenue HDFC (petitioner) and seeks to recover possession of 1809 7th Avenue, apartment 6F, New York, NY 10026 (subject premises) based on the allegation that Tabolee Bouey (respondent), the proprietary lessee, has failed to pay maintenance due for the subject premises. Specifically, petitioner seeks $14,948.96 for reimbursement of expenses in making repairs to various units in the building, which were damaged from a leak alleged to have originated from the subject premises. Nina Bouey-Battle, Benkai Bouey, as trustee of the Tabolee Bouey Irrevocable Trust and John Doe (collectively undertenants) are named as undertenants.

Procedural History

Petitioner issued a rent demand dated March 13, 2014, seeking $15,763.96 in arrears and attorneys fees. The petition is dated March 25, 2014. On April 29, 2014, respondent and undertenants appeared and filed an answer asserting five affirmative defenses. The answer asserted that respondent did not cause the damage, that the repairs were the obligation of petitioner and that petitioner is collaterally estoppel from seeking reimbursement against respondent. The answer further alleges that petitioner lacks standing, failure to state a cause of action, and related defenses.

The proceeding was initially returnable May 6, 2014. On July 24, 2014, respondent moved for an order dismissing the proceeding pursuant to CPLR 3211 (a). The motion was denied by the court (Hahn, J.) on August 26, 2014, based on respondent’s failure to appear in support of the motion. The order [398]*398provided “MDNAM per application of P’s atty. Someone checked in AM calendar, never returned as of 2:43 pm.”

On November 10, 2014, the proceeding was assigned to Part L for trial. The trial commenced on November 10, continued on November 24, and concluded on December 9, 2014. At the conclusion of the trial, the court reserved decision.

Prior Related Proceeding

There was a prior nonpayment proceeding between the parties under index number 70866/2013. Petitioner commenced that proceeding seeking the same $14,948.96 for reimbursement as is sought herein. The petition is dated June 2013. The trial took place in December 2013. After trial, the court (Stoller, J.) dismissed the proceeding. The court found that the petitioner had passed a resolution dated February 1, 2013 requiring respondent to pay the $14,948.96 within one year of the date of the resolution. Based on the resolution, the court found that the rent demand issued in June 2013 was premature and that petitioner’s cause of action had not yet accrued.

Findings of Fact

Respondent is the proprietary lessee of the subject premises, pursuant to a proprietary lease dated September 13, 2004 (exhibit 1) and a stock certificate issued on the same date (exhibit 2). Petitioner is the landlord, proprietary lessor and the owner of the subject building (exhibit 3). There was a valid multiple dwelling registration for the subject premises filed in June 2014 (exhibit 4).

Respondent has not been residing in the subject premises. From December 2011 to December 2012, respondent had sublet the subject premises with petitioner’s approval. Ben Bouey (Bouey) is respondent’s son, and petitioner often communicates with respondent regarding the subject premises through Bouey.

On December 1, 2012, in the early morning hours, a leak started from the subject premises. Petitioner and its board members believed that the subject premises was unoccupied and called the fire department because they were not otherwise able to gain access to the subject premises. The fire department arrived and forced open the door to the subject premises. Domingos Calaz, secretary of the board and resident of apartment 6B, Keith Covington, resident of apartment 6D, and Debbie Rondon, president of the board and resident of apartment 4B, all entered the subject premises with the firemen. Upon [399]*399entry to the subject premises, they observed that the subject premises appeared to be occupied based on furniture and various personal belongings found therein.

They also observed water on the kitchen floor of the subject premises, and a puddle of water by the cabinet to the kitchen sink. The leak was from a loose hose that ran from underneath the kitchen sink to a washing machine. The firemen turned off the water under the kitchen sink. A new lock was installed on the door to the subject premises, and an email was sent to Bouey detailing what had occurred.

Four apartments in the six line were damaged as a result of the flood. The damaged apartments were 6E, 6D, 6C, and 6B. The damage occurred in the bathroom and kitchen of the apartments.

Bouey later advised Debbie Rondon, president of the co-op board, that the subject premises were being occupied by Jessica Gomez at the time. Bouey stated Gomez was his representative, and demanded that Gomez be given access to the subject premises. Gomez is the daughter of another shareholder in the subject building. Bouey had agreed to allow Gomez to temporarily stay in the subject premises, without petitioner’s permission or knowledge. Gomez lived in the subject premises for approximately two weeks in November 2012. Gomez used the washing machine in the subject premises. Gomez activated the washing machine by turning a lever under the sink.

On December 2, 2012, Gomez’s father, Jesus, was permitted access to the subject premises by petitioner, to remove Gomez’s personal belongings. The washing machine was removed from the subject premises on this date. There was a dispute between Bouey and Gomez regarding ownership of the washing machine. Testimony by Nina-Bouey Battle, the current occupant, indicated that as of the date of the trial the washing machine was back in the subject premises but not connected.

On December 3, 2012, another leak occurred. By this date, the keys to the new lock for the subject premises had been sent to Bouey, and again the fire department had to be called to gain access to the subject premises. However, this leak was minor, in comparison to the first leak, and did not cause any additional damage to the four other apartments. By December 3, 2012, the washing machine had been removed from the subject premises, but the hose was still connected under the sink and was leaking water.

[400]*400Respondent did not appear at the trial personally and did not testify. However, one of the undertenants, Battle did appear and testify. Battle has been living in the subject premises since January 2013, and is respondent’s daughter. The court did not find Battle to be a credible witness, particularly regarding her testimony implying there were ongoing leaks in the subject premises. While there was pointing work done on the building in late 2012, there is no evidence in the record to suggest that this was in any way related to the damage to the other apartments from the December 1, 2012 leak from the subject premises.

Petitioner hired a contractor, Reuben Rivera, to make repairs to the apartments that had been damaged by the leak. The work took approximately four to five weeks. Rivera passed away prior to the trial.

Discussion

The rent demand herein reads in pertinent part: “The sum of $14,948.96 represents lessor’s claims for reimbursement of expenses pursuant to Article 6.01 (c) incurred by lessor in performing acts which . . .

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Bluebook (online)
47 Misc. 3d 396, 2 N.Y.S.3d 771, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/1809-15-7th-avenue-hdfc-v-bouey-nycivct-2015.