Mogilevsky v. Keating

11 Mass. L. Rptr. 332
CourtMassachusetts Superior Court
DecidedFebruary 11, 2000
DocketNo. 993656H
StatusPublished

This text of 11 Mass. L. Rptr. 332 (Mogilevsky v. Keating) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Massachusetts Superior Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Mogilevsky v. Keating, 11 Mass. L. Rptr. 332 (Mass. Ct. App. 2000).

Opinion

Lopez, J.

The plaintiff, Boris Mogilevsky (“Mogilevsky”), brought this action against his former employer and landlord, defendants Doris Keating (“Keating”), Peter Keating, 78 Charles Street Realty Corp., d/b/a Street & Company, and J. Brooks Porter (collectively, “Landlord” or “Defendants”) alleging discrimination and retaliation, inter alia, for the substandard housing he received in exchange for superintendent responsibilities. On January 5, 2000, this matter was before the court for a hearing on the defendant’s motion to dismiss the complaint in its entirety.3 After hearing, and upon consideration of the memoranda and arguments of counsel, the defendants’ motion is ALLOWED in part and DENIED in part.

BACKGROUND

The following facts are taken as true for the purposes of this motion. In July 1994, Mogilevsky was hired by Keating & Company, Inc. to act as a superintendent at 105-107 Beacon Street in exchange for housing in the basement apartment of 105 Beacon Street starting on September 1, 1994. (Mogilevsky Amended Complaint ¶¶7, 9.) Mogilevsky was to oversee the property located at 105 Beacon Street and 107 Beacon Street, managed by Street & Company, Inc. [Id. at ¶¶7, 8.) Under the terms of the agreement, heat and hot water were to be provided by the Landlord. [Id. at 1110.)

During Mogilevsky’s first winter in the apartment, the natural gas stove was sealed by the gas company because of the dangerous condition it posed. (Id. at ¶ 12.) For the next four years, Mogilevsky had insufficient heat. [Id. at ¶ 13.) In addition, during the winter of October 1997 to February 1998, Mogilevsky had no hot water and no water at all in his kitchen sink. (Id. at ¶ 15.) In addition, a washer and dryer installed near his apartment were not properly vented and Mogilevsky suffered from the fumes, gases and moisture. (Id. at ¶14.) Further, insulation in the building was inadequate. (Id. at ¶16.)

Mogilevsky complained to the Landlord about the insufficient heat and other problems with the apartment both orally and in writing, though exact dates are not provided. (Id. at ¶19.) On several occasions, though Mogilevsky does not say on what dates, defendants Keating and Porter responded to Mogilevsky’s complaints with derogatory comments such as, since Mogilevsky was Russian, he should be used to the cold, and Keating said Mogilevsky complained “like an old Jew.” (Id. at ¶20.) Keating, however, assured Mogilevsky that: his heating would be corrected; his kitchen would be renovated; the building’s insulation would be improved; the laundry facilities would be vented properly; and that Mogilevsky would continue to be the supervisor of the property after the renovations were completed. (Id. at ¶¶24, 25.) As the renovations progressed, it became clear to Mogilevsky that none of the renovations promised by the Defendants would come to pass. (Id. at ¶26.) Mogilevsky again complained about the deficiencies in the apartment and the Defendants’ failure to honor the agreement. (Id.)

In April 1998, Keating and her son Peter Keating advised Mogilevsky that his employment would be terminated. (Id. at ¶27.) In addition, Keating told Mogilevsky that he could be terminated “because we don’t like your accent.” (Id.) Mogilevsky received a letter dated June 24, 1998 advising him that his position of superintendent was being eliminated and requesting that he move out before August 31, 1998. (Id. at ¶28.)

On or about August 28, 1998, Mogilevsky made a complaint to the City of Boston Inspectional Services Department (“BIS”), which subsequently issued a citation for code violations including lack of proper heating facilities and improper ventilation of the laundry facilities. (Id. at ¶30.) On September 26, 1998, Mogilevsky filed two complaints with the Massachu[333]*333setts Commission Against Discrimination {“MCAD”) one alleging employment discrimination and another alleging housing discrimination. (Id. at ¶¶31, 32.) The MCAD subsequently dismissed Mogilevsky’s employment discrimination complaint because of a lack of jurisdiction, (id. at ¶31.)

In March 1999, the Defendants (with the exception of Peter Keating and J. Brooks Porter) threatened to sue Mogilevsky because of the complaints he made to BIS and the MCAD. (Id. at ¶33.) On July 30, 1999, Mogilevsky filed his complaint in this Court. On or about August 25, 1999, Mogilevsky sent a formal written demand for relief under G.L.c. 93A upon the Defendants. (Id. at ¶36.) The Defendants responded by reiterating the threats to sue Mogilevsky if he pursued his claims. (Id. at ¶¶33, 34, 37.)

DISCUSSION

This court must accept as true the well pleaded factual allegations of the complaint, as well as any reasonable inferences to be drawm in the plaintiffs favor under Mass.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(6). See Fairneny v. Savogren Co., 422 Mass. 469, 470 (1996); Eyal v. Helen Broadcasting Corp., 411 Mass. 426, 429 (1991), and cases cited. A “complaint should not be dismissed for failure to state a claim unless it appears beyond doubt that the plaintiff can prove no set of facts in support of his claim which would entitle him to relief.” Nader v. Citron, 372 Mass. 96, 98 (1977), quoting Conley v. Gibson, 355 U.S. 41, 45-46 (1957). “[I]t is enough for the complaint to contain ... a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief.” Charbonnier v. Amico, 367 Mass. 146, 152 (1975). See Whitinsville Plaza, Inc. v. Kotseas, 378 Mass. 85, 89 (1979). Further, a complaint should not be dismissed, merely because it asserts a new or extreme theory of liability or improbable facts. See Coolidge Bank & Trust Co. v. First Ipswich Co., 9 Mass.App.Ct. 369, 370 (1980).

1. Status.

As an initial matter, it is necessary to determine Mogilevsky’s status. The parties have entered into an agreement whereby Mogilevsky would provide superintendent services in exchange for housing. Mogilevsky alleges that the housing he bargained for is required to meet minimum standards of habitability and that he is entitled to secure that compliance under our laws. The Defendants maintain, however, that Mogilevsky is a licensee and has no right to the protections afforded tenants in the Commonwealth or under federal law. There are no appellate decisions on this exact question. A ruling on this question is necessary to resolve this motion to dismiss. After a review of related decisions and relying on principles of statutory construction, this Court finds, as a matter of law, that the laws relative to requiring and securing the right to habitable premises are available to individuals who receive housing in exchange for services, even if those individuals are considered to be licensees.

In reaching these conclusions, the Court relies on Serreze v. YWCA of Western Massachusetts, Inc., 30 Mass.App.Ct. 639 (1991).4 There, the YWCA sought to evict plaintiffs from housing provided pursuant to a transitional housing program, alleging that the plaintiffs were clients in a temporary treatment program, and, as such, licensees not statutorily protected under landlord-tenant law.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Conley v. Gibson
355 U.S. 41 (Supreme Court, 1957)
Charland v. Muzi Motors, Inc.
631 N.E.2d 555 (Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, 1994)
Whitinsville Plaza, Inc. v. Kotseas
390 N.E.2d 243 (Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, 1979)
Charbonnier v. Amico
324 N.E.2d 895 (Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, 1975)
Deas v. Dempsey
530 N.E.2d 1239 (Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, 1988)
Simon v. Solomon
431 N.E.2d 556 (Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, 1982)
Serreze v. YWCA of Western Massachusetts, Inc.
572 N.E.2d 581 (Massachusetts Appeals Court, 1991)
Brown v. Guerrier
457 N.E.2d 630 (Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, 1983)
Eyal v. Helen Broadcasting Corp.
583 N.E.2d 228 (Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, 1991)
Coolidge Bank & Trust Co. v. First Ipswich Co.
401 N.E.2d 165 (Massachusetts Appeals Court, 1980)
Nader v. Citron
360 N.E.2d 870 (Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, 1977)
Cruz Management Co. v. Thomas
417 Mass. 782 (Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, 1994)
Fairneny v. Savogran Co.
422 Mass. 469 (Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, 1996)
Arsenault v. Chicopee Housing Authority
15 Mass. App. Ct. 939 (Massachusetts Appeals Court, 1983)
King v. First
705 N.E.2d 1172 (Massachusetts Appeals Court, 1999)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
11 Mass. L. Rptr. 332, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/mogilevsky-v-keating-masssuperct-2000.