Damages for Wrongful Eviction Reduced

Facts: Tenants of the St. George Hotel sued landlord for wrongful eviction and infliction of severe emotional distress. Landlord intentionally tried to drive tenants from 300 apartments. Landlord destroyed building systems, making the building unsafe and forcing DOB to order the tenants to move out while landlord made repairs. The building remained empty for 12 years and the repairs were never made. The trial court ordered landlord to pay $3,750,000 in punitive damages. Landlord appealed. Court: The amount of punitive damages was vastly greater than any benefit landlord could possibly have gained from its wrongful conduct. It was disproportionate to the wrongs committed and had to be reduced. The punitive damages were reduced to $1,000,000. And the fact that a new group of shareholders had taken over the corporate landlord didn't change landlord's liability for punitive damages, especially when repairs still hadn't been made.

Yokley v. Henry-Clark Associates: 624 NYS2d 341 (1995) (Civ. Ct. Kings; Knipel, J)