DISCRIMINATION

Landlord Not Responsible for Tenant-on-Tenant Harassment

May 24, 2021    

An African-American tenant sued landlord of Suffolk County apartment complex in federal court in 2014 after a three-year "campaign of racial harassment, abuse, and threats" by tenant's white neighbor....

Tenant Can't Sue NYCHA Over Accommodations in Scheduling Repairs

March 29, 2021    

Tenant sued landlord NYCHA, seeking apartment repairs. In February 2019, the court ordered landlord to repair mold and plaster issues. Some scheduled repairs were missed in 2019 and, after tenant was diagnosed with...

Occupant's Housing Discrimination Claim Against NYU Is Dismissed

January 26, 2021    

Apartment occupant complained to the NY State Division of Human Rights (DHR) of discrimination by landlord NYU after landlord refused to offer him a vacancy lease. The DHR ruled against occupant, finding no...

Landlord's Contract with FDNY Didn't Require Unconstitutional Behavior

January 25, 2021    

Rent-stabilized tenants, who were black and the sole remaining occupants of landlord's 23-unit apartment building, sued landlord and the FDNY, claiming a hostile housing environment in violation of the Fair...

Does Tenant Need to Keep Eight Dogs as a Reasonable Accommodation?

December 21, 2020    

Landlord cooperative corporation sued shareholder tenant for violating her proprietary lease by keeping eight dogs and two cats in her apartment. This created noise and odors that other residents complained about....

Landlord Barred Disabled Tenant's Use of Motorized Scooter

December 21, 2020    

Tenant sued landlord for disability discrimination in violation of the federal Fair Housing Act. Tenants lived in a ground-floor unit in an apartment complex. Based on multiple disabilities, tenant used a motorized...

Landlord Must Pay Fines and Damages for Racial Discrimination

October 27, 2020    

Tenant filed a complaint against landlord with the NY State Division of Human Rights (NYSDHR), claiming discrimination based on race. Tenant said that landlord told her she would have to move out because there were...

Landlord Must Lay Down Lobby Floor Mats for Mobility-Impaired Tenant

September 21, 2020    

Rent-stabilized tenant and the NY State Division of Human Rights (DHR) sued landlord for disability discrimination. They claimed this was based on landlord's denial of tenant's request for a reasonable...

Security Deposit Vouchers Are a "Source of Income" Under NYC Law

June 26, 2020    

Prospective tenant applied for an apartment from landlord, who rejected her application because she couldn't pay a cash security deposit. Tenant claimed that she had a security deposit voucher from HRA. Claiming...

Disabled Tenant Given Probationary Stay as Reasonable Accommodation

June 26, 2020    

Landlord sued to evict rent-stabilized tenant for using, or permitting the use of, her apartment for illegal activity. Landlord claimed that drugs were sold from the apartment. Tenant claimed that she didn't know...

Tenant Must Restate Discrimination Claims After Eviction

March 24, 2020    

Tenant sued the YWCA, which received federal funding to provide supportive housing to tenant in landlord's building. After tenant was evicted, tenant claimed housing discrimination by the YWCA under the Fair...

Supported Housing Program Tenant Can Sue Landlord for Discrimination

March 24, 2020    

Landlord sued to evict tenant, a mentally and physically disabled resident of a housing facility in a state- and city-funded Supported Apartments Program, for nonpayment of rent. Tenant then sued landlord in federal...