Lead poisoning claim goes to trial

Parent of two and one-half-year-old child found with elevated lead levels sued landlord. On September 13, 2004, a two and one-half-year-old child was diagnosed with lead poisoning after a test revealed his blood lead level to be four times greater than the City’s guideline.  The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene tested the child’s apartment located at 1727-29 Walton Avenue in the Bronx and discovered 47 positive findings of lead paint and 29 readings which … <Read More>


Council Introduces Legislative Package To Eliminate Lead Poisoning In Housing

City Council bills target lead levels. On May 10, 2018, Speaker Corey Johnson and 19 City Council Members introduced a package of 23 bills to eliminate lead poisoning in the five boroughs. The package of bills, the largest lead laws since 2004, seeks to strengthen, expand, and establish new protections on the city’s lead laws.


HPD Fines Landlord $150K for Failure to Comply With Lead Laws

On January 10, 2024, the New York City Department Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) announced that they obtained civil penalties amounting to $150,000 against Ezriel Weinberger and affiliates for their failure to comply with lead-based paint laws across ten properties. These penalties concern lead-based paint offenses in over 790 units located across the Bronx and Manhattan. Each property incurred fines of $15,000.


Mayor Announces Successful Enforcement Action and Agreement with Four Landlords Over Lead Safety Violations

On August 1, 2023, Mayor Eric Adams announced the successful enforcement against safety violations found in over 5,000 apartments through an agreement between the city and four landlords that have resulted in almost $500,000 in civil penalties, and required the landlords to resolve all outstanding violations and comply with Local Law 1, the New York City Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Act. 



HPD Changes to Stricter Definition of Lead-Based Paint, Expecting Increase in Lead Violations

The reduction is expected to lead to an increase of surfaces found with lead and an increase in violations issued. On December 30, 2021, the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) announced a change in the standard defining what paint counts as “lead-based,” creating the strictest standard in the nation. The new definition amends the concentration of lead found in paint allowed from 1.0 milligrams of lead per square centimeter of paint or similar <Read More>