Landlord Denied Late Fees

On July 3, 2011, in Landlord-Tenant, by Robbie L. Vaughn, Esq.

Landlord Was Denied Late Fees

In the recent case of BROJA REALTY, LLC v. Amparo, 2011 NY Slip Op 51168 – NY: City Court, Civil Court 2011, Landlord was denied late fees of $3,750  (which had accrued over the last 6 years).

The landlord was denied late fees due to his delay in seeking the fees and his accounting methods. Most of the late fees being sought had accrued over four years ago. Additionally, the Landlord maintained two different accounting books, each reflecting different charges for late fees for the same period.

We proudly assist Landlords and Tenants in Nassau county, Suffolk county, Queens, Brooklyn, Bronx, Staten Island, and Manhattan with their landlord tenant matters. Call (516) 858-2620 to arrange a FREE consultation with a Landlord Tenant attorney!

 

 

Landlord must return $115,944.19 plus interest to tenant

On July 3, 2011, in Landlord-Tenant, by Robbie L. Vaughn, Esq.

Landlord Owes Tenant

Here is an unusual case where the landlord owes tenant $115,944.19.

Section 7-103 of the General Obligations Law provides, in pertinent part, that:

1. Whenever money shall be deposited or advanced on a contract or license agreement for the use or rental of real property as security for performance of the contract or agreement or to be applied to payments upon such contract or agreement when due, such money, with interest accruing thereon, if any, until repaid or so applied, shall continue to be the money of the person making such deposit or advance and shall be held in trust by the person with whom such deposit or advance shall be made and shall not be mingled with the personal moneys or become an asset of the person receiving the same.

In the recent case of 23 E. 39th ST. MGT. v. 23 E. 39th ST. DEVS., 2011 NY Slip Op 31684 – NY: Supreme Court 2011, the  landlord failed to place a $400k security deposit in a segregated interest bearing account. The court found this to be conversion and ordered that the landlord return to the tenant, $115,944.19, the amount sought in the complaint, with interest at the statutory rate from October 9, 2007.

We proudly assist Landlords and Tenants in Nassau county, Suffolk county, Queens, Brooklyn, Bronx, Staten Island, and Manhattan with their landlord tenant matters. Call (516) 858-2620 to arrange a FREE consultation with a Landlord Tenant attorney!

Same Sex Marriage in New York

On June 29, 2011, in Divorce, Family Law, by John A. Weber IV, ESQ.

Same Sex Marriage in New York

As I am sure you have all heard that New York has become the most recent state to allow same sex marriage (which was long overdue).  There may be some “old” concerns for “new” couples hoping to take advantage of the new law.  Issues of pre nuptial and post nuptial agreements need to be considered.  There will also be issues involving divorces and estate planning which need to be considered.  With all of the excitement that is surrounding the passing of this new same sex marriage bill, it may benefit those effected to take a step back and plan accordingly.  Pre nuptial agreements are an excellent way to protect assets and clarify the intentions of both spouses ahead of time (before the marriage) so that there are no surprises later.  Post nuptial agreements are a way for couples to draw a line and add stabilization to a wavering marriage.  Either way, with all of the excitement over the new same sex marriage bill, there are sure to be some questions on the horizon.  As always, if you have any questions about how to design a pre or post nuptial agreement to meet your specific needs, feel free to call the Law Firm of Vaughn, Weber & Prakope, PLLC at (516) 858-2620!

Short sale after bankruptcy?

On June 25, 2011, in Bankruptcy, Real Estate, by Robbie L. Vaughn, Esq.

We are often asked, “should I short sale my property if I already filed bankruptcy?”

Maybe.

There may be several reasons to proceed with either a deed-in-lieu of foreclosure or a short sale of  your home after your bankruptcy discharge is granted and your bankruptcy case is closed:

  • To avoid paying Homeowner’s insurance.
  • To avoid being liable for any injuries sustained on the property.
  • To avoid liability for HOA dues.
  • To avoid liability for failure to maintain the property.

The above reasons may cause you to lean towards a short sale or deed-in-lieu of your property. However, it would be wise to consult with an attorney before making a final decision.

We proudly assist residents of Long Island: Nassau county, Suffolk county, New York City: Queens, Brooklyn, Bronx, Staten Island, and Manhattan. Call (516) 858-2620 to arrange a FREE consultation with a bankruptcy attorney!

The information you obtain at this site is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice. You should consult an attorney for individual advice regarding your own situation. This website is Attorney Advertising. It does not form an attorney-client relationship. We are a debt relief agency and a law firm that helps people file for bankruptcy relief under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code – Title 11. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Proudly assisting residents of Long Island, Nassau county, Suffolk county, New York City, Queens, Brooklyn, Bronx, Staten Island, Manhattan