1727-29 Walton Avenue. Image Credit: Google Maps.

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 showed the apartment’s paint in poor condition.  The child had been living in the hazardous apartment with his adoptive mother since he was two weeks old. (read more…)

On October 8, 2020, the Conflicts of Interest Board adopted new and important changes to its post-employment rules that restrict former City employees from contacting their former City agencies. The Board, in addition, on May 21, 2021, adopted rules relating to the acceptance of gifts by City employees in certain recurring situations. This article examines these new rules. (read more…)

500 Marlborough Road, Brooklyn. Image Credit: Google Maps

Brooklyn resident sought City funds to repair damages allegedly caused by Super Storm Sandy. Christopher McCollum applied to the Build it Back program through the Mayor’s Office of Housing Recovery Operations for financial help to repair his house at 500 Marlborough Rd in Brooklyn. McCollum claimed that Super Storm Sandy, which hit New York City on October 22, 2012, damaged his home. McCollum claimed funds were needed to repair broken and cracked windows and damage to the rear yard, chimney, facade, and roof tiles. (read more…)

36 West 66th Street. Image Credit: Google Maps.

NOTE: This article was written for and previously appeared in an issue of CityLaw earlier this year, and was chosen for publication to CityLand prior to the issuance of a recent appeal decision that has now overturned this case. Please wait for future coverage of this issue.

Developer received permit to build record-setting skyscraper on the West Side of Manhattan. In November 2017, Extell Development Company unveiled plans to build a massive residential tower for luxury condominiums at 36 West 66th Street. The building, if completed at 775 feet tall, would be the tallest on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. Extell applied for and received a permit from the Department of Buildings after making slight modifications to the structural design in order to accommodate, primarily, fire safety concerns. (read more…)

84-40 Avon Street, Queens. Image Credit: Google Maps

Owner of private elevator failed to perform annual safety inspections. Lisa Neuman is the owner of a single-family home located at 84-40 Avon St., Jamaica Estates, New York. A private elevator has been present in Neuman’s home since the 1990s.  Beginning in 2011, Neuman began receiving yearly notices from the Department of Buildings for failing to perform annual elevator safety inspections in violation of §28-304.6.1 of the Administrative Code, which became effective in 2008. Under Building’s rules, an owner who fails to file a test report for their elevator is subject to a civil penalty of $1,000 per year per elevator.  Buildings filed seven violations for the years 2009 through 2015, and fined Neuman $7,000. (read more…)