Case Type

Holdover-Lease Expiration

Housing Type

Market Rate

Court

Civil Court of the City of New York

County

Kings County (Brooklyn)

L&T / Index / Case / Docket / Clerk's Number

LT-322355-24/KI

Petitioner

PEDRO VALENTINE

Respondent

ABDULLAH ALGHAZALI ET AL.

Judge

Weisberg, Michael, L.

Decision/Order Date

2025-07-30

Posture

Pre-answer Motion by Tenant

Disposition

Motion Granted for Tenant

Winner

Tenant Substantially Won

Synopsis

A landlord's holdover petition was dismissed after the tenant's pre-answer motion for summary judgment was granted. The court found that the process server's affidavit of service demonstrated a failure to make a **reasonable application** to personally serve the tenant before resorting to conspicuous place service. The process server's affidavit alleged that he served the tenant's downstairs neighbor one minute before serving the tenant. The court held that, as a matter of law, waiting less than one minute between attempts at service did not constitute a reasonable application and therefore rendered service defective.

Keywords

Insufficient Attempt at Service; 1 Minute is Inadequate as a Matter of Law

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