Author Archives: Friedman & Ranzenhofer

New York Animal Abuser Registry

The Albany County (New York) Legislature established an animal abuser registry, making it the third county in New York (and in the entire entire nation) to pass such a law. In the past year, Suffolk County, New York and Rockland County, New Yorkapproved similar legislation. The publicly accessible registries allow communities to track the whereabouts […]

What Evicted NY Pet Owners Should Do

In today’s troubled economic times, many pet owners in Rochester, 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 […]

Should I Rent To A Tenant With Pets?

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 […]

Bedbugs Breach NY Warranty of Habitability

A landlord started a nonpaymenteviction 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 tenantargued the arrears should be eliminated or significantly reduced by an abatement during eighty-one days ofa bedbuginfestation. […]

NY Broker Can Be Sued for Rental Discrimination

The black mother of five children responded to an ad on Rochester 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 […]

The Self-Incrimination Privilege in NY Surrogate's Court

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 […]

Rochester, NY Area Courts Must Report Domestic Violence Convictions

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 […]

NY Estate Can’t Recover Funds For Upkeep of Shared Home

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 […]

NY Police Had Probable Cause to Arrest for Gun Possession

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. ANew York City Police officer received a radio call that a child called 911 to say his […]

17 Benefits for Older New Yorkers

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, […]