Landlord Harassed Gay Tenant

March 1, 1994

LVT Number: 8577

Tenant complained to the New York City Commission on Human Rights (CHR) that landlord had discriminated against him and harassed him on the basis of his sexual orientation. Landlord wouldn't renew tenant's lease. CHR found a prolonged pattern of discrimination and harassment. Landlord had interrupted tenant's telephone and electricity services, unlawfully entered his apartment, made menacing phone calls, and sent tenant's employer a libelous letter. CHR awarded tenant $100,000 in damages, and fined landlord $75,000. Landlord appealed, and the appeals court ruled against landlord.

Tenant complained to the New York City Commission on Human Rights (CHR) that landlord had discriminated against him and harassed him on the basis of his sexual orientation. Landlord wouldn't renew tenant's lease. CHR found a prolonged pattern of discrimination and harassment. Landlord had interrupted tenant's telephone and electricity services, unlawfully entered his apartment, made menacing phone calls, and sent tenant's employer a libelous letter. CHR awarded tenant $100,000 in damages, and fined landlord $75,000. Landlord appealed, and the appeals court ruled against landlord. Landlord, by its relentless and prolonged harassment, had subjected tenant to extreme mental anguish. So, the amount of damages was reasonable. The degree of landlord's malice was such a flagrant violation of the city's human rights law that the fine was also warranted.

119-121 East 97th Street Corp. v. City of NY Commission on Human Rights: NYLJ, p. 22, col. 3 (2/9/94) (Sup. Ct. NY; DeGrasse, J)

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