Case Type

HP

Housing Type

Other

Court

SUPREME COURT, APPELLATE TERM, SECOND DEPARTMENT

County

Kings County (Brooklyn)

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

2024-00140 K.C.

Slip Opinion Number

2025 NY Slip Op 50770(U)

Petitioner

LEONEL GOMEZ, ADA HERNANDEZ, IRIS HERNANDEZ, ROSAURA SOSA, GRISELDA UVALDO

Respondent

WILLIAM YANG LLC, XIANG YANG, JANE YANG, NYC DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING PRESERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT

Judge

TOUSSAINT, WAVNY; BUGGS, CHEREÉ A.; OTTLEY, LISA S.

Decision/Order Date

2025-07-18

Posture

Other

Disposition

Other

Winner

Tenant Substantially Won

Synopsis

The court reversed a Civil Court order regarding the calculation of attorneys' fees in an HP action. The lower court awarded fees based on the rates for 18-b assigned counsel, but the Appellate Term held that legal services organizations are entitled to fees based on the prevailing market rate in the community, regardless of their nonprofit status. The case was remitted to the lower court for a new hearing to determine a reasonable fee award based on the correct standard, citing precedent that nonprofit counsel should be valued the same as private attorneys.

Keywords

Attorneys' Fees; Legal Services/Nonprofit Attorneys' Fees Should be Calculated According to Prevailing Market Rate in the Relevant Community

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