Case Type

Holdover-Lease Expiration

Housing Type

Rent Stabilized

Court

Civil Court of the City of New York

County

Kings County (Brooklyn)

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

329479-22

Slip Opinion Number

2025 NY Slip Op 51250(U)

Petitioner

700 Bklyn Realty LLC, 700 BKLYN 12 REALTY LLC, OCEANWALK BEACH BKLYN REALTY LLC, OCEANWALK CONDO BKLYN REALTY LLC, 780 BKLYN REALTY LLC, MINNETONKA III BKLYN REALTY LLC and, MINNETONKA V BKLYN REALTY LLC

Respondent

Theodora Forsythe, W.W., JOHN DOE and JANE DOE

Judge

Jimenez, Sergio

Decision/Order Date

2025-08-07

Posture

Post-judgment Motion by Tenant

Disposition

Other

Winner

Other

Synopsis

The court granted the tenant's motion to join the Department of Social Services (DSS) as a party but denied DSS's motion to appoint a guardian ad litem (GAL) for the occupant. The court reasoned that a GAL in housing court is not equipped to handle the complex social, financial, and medical needs identified by DSS, which are more appropriate for an Article 81 guardianship. The court also denied a further stay of the eviction, expressing skepticism that a GAL would serve as anything more than a "public relations device" to mask systemic failures in providing adequate social services.

Keywords

Department of Social Services' Motion to Appoint GAL Denied; DSS is Joined to Proceeding but Court Declines to Further Stay Eviction

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