Case Type
Holdover-Chronic Rent Delinquency/Failure to Verify Income
Housing Type
Rent Stabilized
Court
Appellate Division, First Department
County
New York County (Manhattan)
L&T / Index / Case / Docket / Clerk's Number
100176/19
Slip Opinion Number
2024 NY Slip Op 00156
Petitioner
Robert Michael Williams Jr.
Respondent
New York City Housing Authority
Judge
Manzanet-Daniels, J.P., Webber, Friedman, Shulman, Rosado
Decision/Order Date
2024-01-11
Posture
Post-judgment Motion by NYCHA
Disposition
Motion Granted for NYCHA
Winner
Landlord Substantially Won
Synopsis
The Appellate Division upheld the NYCHA Hearing Officer's denial of petitioner's application to vacate a default judgment for chronic rent delinquency and failure to verify income. The tenant failed to convince the court he had a valid reason for missing the hearing or a strong defense to the underlying charges. This case highlights key legal points: 1) Tenants in eviction proceedings must attend hearings or present valid excuses for absence; 2) Default judgments stand if tenants lack justification for non-appearance and weak defenses; and 3) Courts can lift stays on eviction proceedings when initial rulings are grounded in reason. This reaffirms the importance of tenant responsibilities in court proceedings and the potential consequences of negligence.
Recommended Citation
"Matter of Williams v. New York City Hous. Auth." (2024). All Decisions. 1321.
https://ir.lawnet.fordham.edu/housing_court_all/1321
