Case Type

Other

Housing Type

Condominium

Court

Appellate Division, First Department

County

New York County (Manhattan)

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

653955/24

Slip Opinion Number

2026 NY Slip Op 03075

Petitioner

MEC Property Holdings, LLC

Respondent

Gelfand, Chaya; Howell, Hans; Gelfond, Robert

Judge

Webber; Gonzalez; Pitt-Burke; Higgitt; Hagler

Decision/Order Date

2026-05-14

Posture

Post-answer Motion by Tenant

Disposition

Case Dismissed/discontinued

Winner

Tenant Substantially Won

Synopsis

In a plenary action for overdue rent, the Appellate Division dismissed the landlord's complaint. The lease required a 14-day rent demand as a condition precedent to any action seeking overdue rent. The landlord failed to serve this notice. The court held that the plain meaning of the lease controlled, even for a plenary action, and that failure to satisfy this contractual condition precedent warranted dismissal. The tenants' motion for summary judgment on their counterclaims was denied due to insufficient evidence.

Keywords

Plenary Action for Rent, Contractual Condition Precedent, 14-Day Rent Demand Required by Lease, Complaint Dismissed for Failure to Serve Predicate Notice

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