Landlord Didn't Comply with Court Order

LVT Number: 6920

HPD sued landlord to correct serious housing violations. Landlord agreed in court to make repairs, but a subsequent inspection showed that landlord hadn't done so, and that the building was unfit for human habitation. At HPD's request, the trial court found landlord in civil and criminal contempt of the repair order and imposed a jail sentence on landlord for both contempt orders. Landlord appealed, and the appeals court affirmed the lower court's ruling. But, it removed the jail sentence for the civil contempt.

HPD sued landlord to correct serious housing violations. Landlord agreed in court to make repairs, but a subsequent inspection showed that landlord hadn't done so, and that the building was unfit for human habitation. At HPD's request, the trial court found landlord in civil and criminal contempt of the repair order and imposed a jail sentence on landlord for both contempt orders. Landlord appealed, and the appeals court affirmed the lower court's ruling. But, it removed the jail sentence for the civil contempt.

Department of Housing Preservation and Development v. Guzman: NYLJ, p. 22, col. 6 (4/19/93) (App. T. 1 Dept.; Parness, JP; Miller, McCooe, JJ)