Tenant Broke Marble Steps

The DOB issued a violation notice to landlord for not maintaining the marble steps in its building. Landlord showed that tenant had broken the steps while moving heavy furniture two days before the violation notice was issued. Landlord had immediately sealed off the steps until it could buy plywood of the correct size. On the day the citation was issued, landlord's employees built temporary steps out of plywood---to be used in emergencies. Landlord had also immediately arranged to have new marble steps made; these were installed within a month. Still, the ALJ fined landlord $500, and landlord appealed. The ECB dismissed the violation, finding that landlord had maintained the steps. The steps weren't broken because landlord didn't maintain them, and landlord properly repaired them as quickly as possible.

City of New York v. Milbrook Properties: ECB App. No. 9095 (5/22/91) [2-page document]