Tenant's Complaints Don't Present Valid Discrimination Claim

Tenant sued landlord NYCHA in federal court over repair and other housing-related issues in connection with her apartment. Landlord asked the court to dismiss the case, claiming that the federal court didn’t have the authority to decide tenant’s claims. The court ruled for landlord. Tenant complained that landlord made her submit to a mental evaluation in connection with a housing court case and left “embarrassing notes” on her apartment door concerning claimed rent arrears. Tenant also claimed that she was disabled and couldn’t use a chair prescribed by her doctor because of faulty electric outlets in the apartment. But tenant didn’t claim that landlord discriminated against her based on her disability. Nothing in tenant’s court papers suggested that landlord violated tenant’s constitutional rights or any federal law.

Townsend v. NYCHA Law Department: Index No. 12-CV-4401, 2012 WL 3903468 (EDNY; 9/6/12; Ross, DJ)