Landlord Complied with Settlement Agreement by Starting Repairs

Landlord sued 26 tenants for nonpayment of rent. Tenants and landlord signed settlement agreements by which landlord agreed to make repairs. Tenants later asked the court to hold landlord in contempt for not making the repairs. The court ruled against tenants. Landlord had started major capital improvements to the building, including plumbing repairs. The court wouldn't order landlord to make certain repairs a priority over others. The court said also that if it took several repairs to completely correct the conditions in question, tenants could get further rent abatements.

Parkchester Preservation Co. v. Molina: NYLJ, 6/14/00, p. 31, col. 3 (Civ. Ct. Bronx; Heymann, J)