Landlord Must Give Tenants Requested Documents

(Decision submitted by David S. Hershey-Webb of the Manhattan law firm of Himmelstein, McConnell, Gribben, Donoghue & Joseph, attorneys for the tenant.) Landlords sued to evict rent-stabilized tenant for owner occupancy. Tenant conducted pretrial questioning of landlords and then requested additional documents. Landlords refused to provide them, and tenant asked the court to dismiss the case. The court didn't dismiss the case but otherwise ruled for tenants by ordering landlord to comply with an agreement to provide relevant documents. Landlord was directed to give tenants copies of all mortgage applications, original contracts to buy the building, including any side letter agreements, copies of all buyout agreements, copies of unredacted income tax returns for the past five years, a list of witnesses, the application for the building permit for landlords' building renovations, copies of contractor's bills, and checks to pay those bills, plus any contracts and correspondence with contractors for 2002 renovations.

Dooling v. O'Connor: Index No. 85297/04 (Civ. Ct. NY 11/7/05; Lansden, J) [8-pg. doc.]