Landlord Removed Tenants' Belongings from Apartment

Landlord sued to evict Yonkers tenants for nonpayment of rent. The court ruled for landlord. Tenants later asked for a delay in the eviction warrant in order to retrieve their belongings. The court granted this request. But tenants found that landlord had removed their property and had it placed in storage before they arrived. The court ordered landlord to return the property, mostly furniture and household appliances. The storage company had already sold the property at landlord's direction. So the court held a hearing to determine the value of tenants' belongings. The storage company got $2,200 on the sale of the furniture. The court found the total value to be $4,500. The court also held landlord in contempt for removing tenants' property in violation of its order to delay the eviction warrant. Landlord was fined $250.

Morales v. Pastilha: NYLJ, p. 34, col. 5 (3/29/95) (Yonkers City Ct.; Nocca, J)