Case Type

Non-payment

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

LT-305111-25/KI

Petitioner

BOTTEM REALTY, LLC

Respondent

NSAFOAH YAA, JOHN DOE, JANE DOE

Judge

Cohen, Hannah

Decision/Order Date

2026-05-26

Posture

Post-answer Motion by Tenant

Disposition

Motion Granted for Landlord

Winner

Landlord Substantially Won

Synopsis

The Civil Court denied the tenant's motion for discovery in a nonpayment proceeding where the tenant raised a rent overcharge defense. The tenancy commenced in 1992 and rent history included multiple unexplained increases exceeding legally permitted amounts. The court distinguished Harvey and Syllman, holding that reliance on those post-HSTPA cases was misplaced because the tenancy predated HSTPA, and declined to extend the fraud exemption to pre-HSTPA tenancies absent a fraud claim.

Keywords

Discovery Denied in Rent Overcharge; Rent Overcharge; HSTPA; Harvey; Syllman; Pre-HSTPA Tenancy; Fraud Not Required Post-Harvey

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