X

Thank you for sharing!

Your article was successfully shared with the contacts you provided.

  Respondent Margarita Herrera appeals from an order of the Civil Court of the City of New York, New York County (Clifton A. Nembhard, J.), dated May 17, 2019, which granted landlord’s motion for summary judgment of possession in a holdover summary proceeding. PER CURIAM Appeal from order (Clifton A. Nembhard, J.), dated May 17, 2019, deemed an appeal from the ensuing final judgment (same court and Judge), entered May 29, 2019, and so considered (see CPLR 5520[c]), final judgment affirmed, without costs. Respondent Margarita Herrera failed to raise any triable issue of fact with respect to her proffered succession defense. The undisputed record evidence established that the defaulting record tenant Alejandro Herrera, respondent’s purported father, left the subject rent stabilized apartment and began residing elsewhere in 2004, without notifying landlord of the change in circumstances. Upon tenant’s departure, respondent admittedly forged tenant’s signature on renewal leases extending through December 2017, never notified landlord that the record tenant had left and rent was paid in tenant’s name. Thus, although the apartment was no longer tenant’s primary residence after 2004, he cannot be found to have “permanently vacated” the apartment prior to the expiration of the last lease renewal on December 31, 2017 (see Matter of Well Done Realty, LLC v. Epps, 177 AD3d 427 [2019]; Third Lenox Terrace Assoc. v. Edwards, 91 AD3d 532, 533 [2012]). In the absence of any evidence tending to show that respondent “resided with” the tenant in the subject apartment during the two-year period immediately preceding the tenant’s permanent vacatur (see Rent Stabilization Code [9 NYCRR] §2523.5[b][1]), respondent’s succession claim must fail (see Matter of Well Done Realty, LLC v. Epps, 177 AD3d at 428; Third Lenox Terrace Assoc. v. Edwards, 91 AD3d at 533; 68-74 Thompson Realty, LLC v. McNally, 71 AD3d 411, 412 [2010]). We acknowledge that there is a split in authority between the Appellate Divisions of the First and Second Department rega  rding when the “permanent vacating of the housing accommodation by the tenant” occurs (Rent Stabilization Code [9 NYCRR] §2523.5[b][1]; compare Matter of Well Done Realty, LLC v. Epps, 177 AD3d at 428 and Third Lenox Terrace Assoc. v. Edwards, 91 AD3d at 533 with Matter of Jourdain v. New York State Div. of Hous. & Community Renewal, 159 AD3d 41 [2018], lv dismissed 34 NY3d 1009 [2019]). Clearly, we are bound by the law as promulgated in the Appellate Division, First Department, until the Court of Appeals makes a dispositive ruling on the issue (see D’Alessandro v. Carro, 123 AD3d 1, 4 [2014]). Alternatively, we note that respondent failed to submit admissible evidence establishing that she is in fact the daughter of the tenant (see Gonzalez v. Abreu, 162 AD3d 748 [2018]; CBU Assoc., Inc. v. Forray, 65 Misc 3d 132[A], 2019 NY Slip Op 51580[U] [App Term, 1st Dept 2019]). The birth certificate submitted by respondent, issued in Mexico, was not translated (see CPLR 2101[b]) and appears to identify an individual other than tenant as her father, and a year of birth at odds with statements in respondent’s affidavit. Moreover, respondent’s acknowledgment that she forged tenant’s name on the aforementioned renewal leases for more than a decade after he began living elsewhere provides an independent basis for rejection of her succession defense (see Extell Belnord LLC v. Eldridge, 42 Misc 3d 143[A], 2014 NY Slip Op 50258[U][App Term, 1st Dept 2014]; South Pierre Assoc. v. Mankowitz, 17 Misc 3d 53 [App Term, 1st Dept 2007]). We have examined respondent’s remaining contentions and find them lacking in merit. THIS CONSTITUTES THE DECISION AND ORDER OF THE COURT. Dated: February 26, 2020

 
Reprints & Licensing
Mentioned in a Law.com story?

License our industry-leading legal content to extend your thought leadership and build your brand.

More From ALM

With this subscription you will receive unlimited access to high quality, online, on-demand premium content from well-respected faculty in the legal industry. This is perfect for attorneys licensed in multiple jurisdictions or for attorneys that have fulfilled their CLE requirement but need to access resourceful information for their practice areas.
View Now
Our Team Account subscription service is for legal teams of four or more attorneys. Each attorney is granted unlimited access to high quality, on-demand premium content from well-respected faculty in the legal industry along with administrative access to easily manage CLE for the entire team.
View Now
Gain access to some of the most knowledgeable and experienced attorneys with our 2 bundle options! Our Compliance bundles are curated by CLE Counselors and include current legal topics and challenges within the industry. Our second option allows you to build your bundle and strategically select the content that pertains to your needs. Both options are priced the same.
View Now
November 27, 2024
London

Celebrating achievement, excellence, and innovation in the legal profession in the UK.


Learn More
December 02, 2024 - December 03, 2024
Scottsdale, AZ

Join the industry's top owners, investors, developers, brokers and financiers for the real estate healthcare event of the year!


Learn More
December 11, 2024
Las Vegas, NV

This event shines a spotlight on how individuals and firms are changing the investment advisory industry where it matters most.


Learn More

A prestigious matrimonial law firm in Garden City is seeking a skilled Associate Attorney with 5 to 7 years of experience in family law. The...


Apply Now ›

FEDERAL PUBLIC DEFENDER VACANCY MIDDLE DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA Refer to: www.ca3.uscourts.gov for detailed announcement...


Apply Now ›

The Business Litigation Group of the Boston office of McCarter & English seeks a litigation associate with 3-5 years of business litigat...


Apply Now ›