Case Type

Non-payment

Housing Type

Other

Court

Civil Court of the City of New York

County

Queens County (Queens)

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

312381/2024

Slip Opinion Number

2025 NY Slip Op 51088(U)

Petitioner

62-60 99th Street Owner II, LLC

Respondent

Konstansa Bobchev & Yordan Bobchev, "John Doe" & "Jane Doe"

Judge

IBRAHIM, SHORAB

Decision/Order Date

2025-06-24

Posture

Post-answer Motion by Tenant

Disposition

Motion Granted for Tenant

Winner

Tenant Substantially Won

Synopsis

In a non-payment proceeding, the court granted the tenant's motion for leave to amend her answer and for discovery. The court held that the landlord failed to prove prejudice or that the amendments were without merit, especially since the tenant was previously pro-se. The court granted discovery on the tenant's fraudulent deregulation and rent overcharge counterclaim, finding a "totality of the circumstances" indicating a fraudulent scheme. This conclusion was supported by a 140% rent increase from the last registered rent-stabilized tenant, a gap in registrations, an unexplained re-entry into rent stabilization, and a post-HSTPA rent increase of over 20%.

Keywords

Leave to Amend Answer Granted; Discovery Granted on Fraudulent Deregulation & Rent Overcharge Counterclaim

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