Case Type

Illegal Lockout

Housing Type

Rent Stabilized

Court

Appellate Term, Second Department

County

Kings County (Brooklyn)

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

2024-1373 KC

Slip Opinion Number

2026 NY Slip Op 50695(U)

Petitioner

Mohamed Tibta

Respondent

156 E. 21, LLC, Ammar Omar

Judge

Toussaint, Wavny, P.J.; Buggs, Cheree, A.; Quinones, Joanne, D.

Decision/Order Date

2026-03-20

Posture

Other

Disposition

Judgment for Tenant

Winner

Tenant Substantially Won

Synopsis

In this illegal lockout proceeding (RPAPL § 713[10]), the Appellate Term affirmed a judgment of possession awarded to the tenant after a nonjury trial. The trial court found that the tenant was, at the very least, a constructive tenant of the premises, a determination supported by leases and DHCR records. The Appellate Term held that the trial court's factual findings regarding constructive possession should not be disturbed on appeal unless its conclusions could not be reached under any fair interpretation of the evidence, giving substantial deference to the trier of fact's credibility determinations.

Keywords

Illegal Lockout; Constructive Possession; Trial Court Credibility Determinations; Judgment of Possession Affirmed

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