Landlord Didn't Prove Initial Registration Hand-Delivered

Facts: Landlord sued to evict rent-stabilized tenant for nonpayment of rent. Tenant claimed landlord hadn't properly registered the apartment. The apartment became subject to rent stabilization in 1992. Tenant was the second stabilized tenant. To prove service of the initial registration (RR-1) form, landlord submitted a one-sentence statement supposedly signed by the first stabilized tenant, which said, ''I, Pauline Brooks, residing at 194 Utica Avenue, Apt. 1D, Brooklyn, NY 11221, acknowledge receipt of the initial rent registration.'' Tenant argued that the RR-1 wasn't served properly, since the Rent Stabilization Code permits service by certified mail only.

M.H.A. Realty Corp. v. Cole: 620 NYS2d 721 (1994) (Civ. Ct. Kings; Finkelstein, J)