NYCHA Held in Contempt for Failing to Provide Hot Water

Tenant sued landlord NYCHA in December 2010, seeking restoration of hot water in her apartment. In January 2012, tenant again sued NYCHA, once again claiming that she had no hot water. Tenant later asked the court to hold NYCHA in contempt for defying many court orders and stipulations by not restoring her hot water. Tenant had been in court more than 24 times in two years without relief. NYCHA claimed that it had agreed to relocate tenant to a bigger apartment if tenant withdrew her complaint, but that tenant had failed to comply. The court found that tenant had withdrawn her prior contempt request while NYCHA buried her apartment transfer approval and tenant continued to live without hot water. After a hearing with testimony from both sides, the court ruled for tenant. The court held NYCHA and one of its employees in civil contempt of court for failing to restore hot water to tenant's apartment. The court awarded tenant $19,200 in fines or damages, to be paid by NYCHA and its employee. 

Brown v. NYCHA: Index No. HP1885/10 and HP116/12, NYLJ No. 1202625719927 (Civ. Ct.NY; 10/17/13; Saxe, J)