Gallet Dreyer & Berkey, LLP | Litigation

Keeping Up With the Times: New York City Housing Court Seeks to Implement Changes

May 2019 | By: Michelle P. Quinn, Esq. | GDB 2019 Spring Newsletter

It has long been noted that the existing housing courts are ill-equipped to handle the number of litigants and extensive caseloads which New York City’s housing courts see each day. From the long lines of litigants (often with children), to the lack of available courtrooms and meeting spaces, and even failing infrastructure, it has become increasingly difficult for matters to be equitably and efficiently resolved. In 2017, Chief Judge Janet DiFiore created a Special Commission on the Future of the New York City Housing Court. The Commission recommended numerous proposed reforms to effect a transformation of the housing court.

How to Prepare for and Conduct Your Annual Meeting

May 2019 | By: David L. Berkey, Esq. | GDB 2019 Spring Newsletter

May and June are the months when most Cooperatives and Condominiums conduct their annual meetings of shareholders or unit owners. Advance planning is essential for a successful annual meeting. Most counsel are experienced in leading annual meetings and can help make sure that your meetings run smoothly and your elections will not be subject to challenge.

Winter 2019 Newsletter

Winter 2019 | Winter 2019 Legal Update

GDB is proud to announce that Michelle P. Quinn has been promoted to partner.

January 2019

Michelle represents businesses and individuals in commercial and residential landlord-tenant litigation, including summary proceedings. She has substantial experience with Mitchell-Lama Cooperatives, Redevelopment Companies, and tenancies protected by New York State Rent Regulations.

Fall 2018 Newsletter

10/24/18 | GDB 2018 Fall Newsletter

Kyle G. Kunst joined Gallet Dreyer & Berkey, LLP as an associate.

9/2018

Kyle G. Kunst joined Gallet Dreyer & Berkey, LLP as an associate. Kyle has litigated commercial disputes throughout the nation in both state and federal courts, servicing a wide array of industries and clients. His experience includes labor and employment, misappropriation of trade secrets, intellectual property and deceptive trade practices, products liability and construction defects. Mr. Kunst also regularly counsels clients through government investigations on the state and federal level.

Service Animals and the “No Dog” Building

7/11/18 | By: Michelle P. Quinn | GDB 2018 Summer Newsletter

The proliferation of online websites that sell “service animal certification kits” in order to allow non-service animals access to public places has led to recent legislation intended to curb the abuse. A new law signed by New York State Governor Andrew M. Cuomo on December 18, 2017 makes it unlawful to knowingly apply a false or improper identification tag designating a service, emotional support, or therapy dog to enable the animal to accompany its owner into places of public accommodation and other venues. What does this law mean for apartment, condominium and cooperative buildings? Read more to find out how you may be affected.

Making a Building Smoke-Free? Here are Answers to Some Commonly Asked Questions

7/11/18 | By: Peter R. Massa, Esq. & Alyssa C. Goldrich, Esq. | GDB 2018 Summer Newsletter

As described in our spring 2018 newsletter, under recent legislation all New York City multi-family dwellings consisting of three or more apartments (including coops and condos) must adopt a smoking policy by August 28, 2018 and provide the policy to all current and prospective residents. This requirement has caused many coops and condos to consider making their buildings “smoke-free” by prohibiting smoking in individual apartments as well as the common areas of the building. Click here for FAQ regarding implementation of a smoke-free policy.

Cooperatives and Condominiums Must Disclose Conflicts of Interest

7/11/18 | By: Marc J. Luxemburg, Esq. | GDB Summer Newsletter

Section 727 of the Business Corporation Law (“BCL”), as enacted last year and recently amended, requires that every cooperative housing corporation incorporated under the BCL and every condominium must report to its shareholders or condo unit owners at least once a year of transactions voted on by the board where one or more of the directors is an interested party pursuant to Section 713 of the BCL. If there is no such transaction, the report must state specifically that no such transaction occurred. Please read on in order to learn what you must do to comply with this new law.

Employers Can Now Require Employees To Sign Arbitration Agreements Waiving the Right to Bring a Class Action

7/11/18 | By: David T. Azrin, Esq. | 2018 Summer Newsletter

The U.S. Supreme Court recently announced that employers can require employees to sign arbitration agreements in which employees agree that they will never bring a class action or collective action in court against their employer, and that they can only pursue any claims against the employer on an individualized basis in a private arbitration proceeding. This decision is significant because it overturns prior appellate court decisions which held that requiring employees to sign such agreements violated the federal National Labor Relations Act.

Partner Beatrice Lesser Won a Unanimous Affirmance from the Appellate Division

4/2018

Partner Beatrice Lesser won a unanimous affirmance from the Appellate Division in a case where the underlying issue concerned a cooperative corporation’s obligation to give a shareholder’s lender notice of the shareholder’s non-monetary default of the proprietary lease. Where the cooperative’s records do not include a copy of the lender’s recognition agreement, counsel is advised to perform an independent search on ACRIS for a UCC-1 and give the lender notice of the shareholder’s default even if it doesn’t have a copy of the recognition agreement.

David S. Douglas, Esq. Honored

6/2018

Partner David S. Douglas was honored to be the recipient of the Westchester Municipal Planning Federation’s 2018 Distinguished Citizen Planner Award in recognition of his work as, among other things, the Chair of the Town of Cortlandt’s Zoning Board of Appeals, Chair of Cortlandt’s Conservation Advisory Council and Open Space Committee, and member of Cortlandt’s Master Plan Committee.

Summer 2018 Newsletter

7/11/2018 | GDB 2018 Summer Newsletter

Legal Update

Spring 2018 Newsletter

4/4/2018 | Spring 2018 Newsletter

Legal Update

GDB Trial Victory Clarifies Scope of New York State Partnership Law

3/15/2018

On March 15, 2018, Gallet Dreyer & Berkey, LLP partners Adam M. Felsenstein and David N. Milner won a trial verdict in Commercial Division of the Supreme Court, New York County in the Le Bel v. Donovan, New York County Index No: 652200/10. The decision is expected to have important ramifications in the area of partnership law.

Winter 2018 Newsletter

1/29/2018 | GDB 2018 Winter Newsletter

Legal Update

New York City Shakes Up the Freelance Sector

10/23/2017 | By: David S. Douglas, Esq. | GDB 2017 Fall Newsletter

Fall 2017 Newsletter

10/23/2017 | GDB 2017 Fall Newsletter

Legal Update

Can a Stroller Be Sent to the Back Door?

8/5/2017 | The New York Times

GDB Partner Beatrice Lesser is quoted in The New York Times

Summer 2017 Newsletter