Tenants Name Landlord on Web Site

Landlord sued to evict tenants for nonpayment of rent. Landlord and tenants signed a settlement agreement in court. Landlord gave tenants a rent credit against back rent due. In exchange, tenants agreed to remove the names of people affiliated with landlord from its Web site blog. Landlord later asked the court to hold tenants in contempt of court for willfully violating that portion of the agreement and continuing to list landlord's shareholders and managing agent on the Web site. The court ruled against landlord. Landlord claimed its right to freely rent apartments was impaired by the continued mention of these names on tenants' Web site. Landlord's agent testified that four potential tenants chose not to rent at the building because of the Web site. But the agent couldn't remember the names of these people and had destroyed the leases he had prepared for them. So there was insufficient proof that landlord's rights were impaired and there could be no finding of contempt of court.

1616 Amsterdam Holding LP v. Richman: NYLJ, 6/23/08, p. 18, col. 1 (Civ. Ct. NY; Wendt, J)