In today’s troubled economic times, many pet owners in Buffalo, Rochester, Niagara Falls and other cities in New York are either losing their homes to foreclosure or being evicted from their apartments. When ultimately forced to move, they may not be able to keep pets in their new residences. Upon facing the prospect of putting their…
New York landlords should carefully weigh the pros and cons of renting to tenants with pets. Many responsible and reliable tenants cannot obtain apartments because they have pets. Landlords who rent to tenants with pets should take the following precautions: Use leases that require: the tenant to provide proof of renter’s insurance containing liability coverage…
A landlord started a nonpayment eviction action in Town Court, Westchester County. The tenant’s rent had been partially paid by a subsidy under the Section 8 program. She did not pay her share of the rent for four months. The tenant argued the arrears should be eliminated or significantly reduced by an abatement during eighty-one…
The black mother of five children responded to an ad on Buffalo Craigslist for the sale or rental of a four-bedroom Amherst, New York single-family home. The rental agent, a licensed New York real estate broker, was listed as the contact. She called the broker and arranged to view the premises. She was met by…
In a proceeding challenging the validity of certain trusts and transactions involving the decedent’s assets that occurred shortly prior to his death, the petitioner, who was the surviving spouse and limited administrator of the decedent’s estate, sought an order directing, the resumption of the respondent’s deposition and compelling him to respond to certain questions. During…
The presence of a gun in a household where domestic violence occurs increases the chances of fatalities by six times. A new law, effective November 29, 2011, helps ensure that the federal prohibition against qualifying misdemeanor domestic violence offenders’ eligibility to access a firearm is strongly enforced. The New York Domestic Violence Firearm Protection Act…
The New York estate of a deceased woman may not sue her long-time domestic partner for half of the payments the deceased woman made toward the purchase and upkeep of their shared home, the New York Appellate Division, Second Department has ruled. The deceased woman, Susan, and the defendant, Charles, bought a vacation property in…
A Huntley/Mapp/Dunaway suppression hearing was held to determine whether there was probable cause to arrest the defendant and the admissibility of physical evidence recovered from his home and statements made by him to the officer at the scene. A New York City Police officer received a radio call that a child called 911 to say…
As a New Yorker, age 60 or older, you may be missing out on dollar benefits and community services. In the free New York State Bar Association pamphlet, 17 Benefits for Older New Yorkers, you’ll find important facts: how finances and age affect eligibility and little-known rules regarding eligibility. Each county in New York State,…
Eight days after receiving an environmental violation notice related to bulk storage of petroleum on property that he owns in Chautauqua County, the former owner of a gas station and convenience store filed a Chapter 13 bankruptcy petition. The petition made no mention of the violation notice. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation …
