Tenant Gets $11,300 in Attorneys' Fees

LVT Number: #20446

Landlord sued to evict rent-stabilized tenant for nonpayment of rent. Tenant claimed a rent overcharge. The court ruled for tenant after a trial and awarded triple damages for willful rent overcharge. Tenant then asked for reasonable attorneys' fees for time spent by his Legal Aid attorneys. The court ruled for tenant and awarded him $11,300. This represented 95 hours at $100 per hour and nine hours at $200 per hour. Reasonable hourly rates for attorneys in this type of case were usually higher.

Landlord sued to evict rent-stabilized tenant for nonpayment of rent. Tenant claimed a rent overcharge. The court ruled for tenant after a trial and awarded triple damages for willful rent overcharge. Tenant then asked for reasonable attorneys' fees for time spent by his Legal Aid attorneys. The court ruled for tenant and awarded him $11,300. This represented 95 hours at $100 per hour and nine hours at $200 per hour. Reasonable hourly rates for attorneys in this type of case were usually higher.

1097 Holding LLC v. Ballesteros: NYLJ, 5/7/08, p. 31, col. 3 (Civ. Ct. Bronx; Lai, J)