IN RE 10TH STREET ASSOCIATES, LLC, pet-ap, v. THE NEW YORK STATE DIVISION OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY RENEWAL res-res

10880. IN RE 10TH STREET ASSOCIATES, LLC, pet-ap, v. THE NEW YORK STATE DIVISION OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY RENEWAL res-res — Borah, Goldstein, Altschuler Nahins & Goidel, P.C., New York (Paul N. Gruber of counsel), for ap — Gary R. Connor, New York (Martin B. Schneider of counsel), for The New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal, res — John D. Gorman, New York, for Edward Coffina, res — Judgment, Supreme Court, New York County (Alice Schlesinger, J.), entered March 13, 2012, denying the petition to set aside the order of respondent New York State Division of Housing and Renewal (DHCR), dated May 24, 2011, insofar as it imposed the penalty of treble damages for a rent overcharge, and dismissing the proceeding brought pursuant to CPLR article 78, unanimously affirmed, without costs.

Petitioner failed to rebut the presumption arising from the finding of a rent overcharge that the overcharge was wilful (see Matter of Graham Ct. Owners Corp. v. Division of Hous. & Community Renewal, 71 AD3d 515, 516 [1st Dept 2010]; Rent Stabilization Code (9 NYCRR) §2526.1). As this Court found in a prior appeal, there was no mention of a preferential rent in the initial lease, so petitioner could not rely on the 2003 rent law amendments authorizing an owner to increase a preferential rent to a legal regulated rent upon renewal of the lease (see 61 AD3d 404 [1st Dept 2009], citing Rent Stabilization Law of 1969 [Administrative Code of City of NY] §26-511[c][14]; 9 NYCRR 2521.2], lv denied 13 NY3d 702 [2009]).