Opinion
2013-11-26
BOARD OF MANAGERS OF CENTRAL PARK PLACE CONDOMINIUM, Plaintiff–Appellant, v. Hubert POTOSCHNIG, etc., Defendant–Respondent, American Express Centurion, et al., Defendants.
Gallet Dreyer & Berkey, LLP, New York (Morrell I. Berkowitz of counsel), for appellant. Hubert Potoschnig, respondent pro se.
Gallet Dreyer & Berkey, LLP, New York (Morrell I. Berkowitz of counsel), for appellant. Hubert Potoschnig, respondent pro se.
Order, Supreme Court, New York County (Judith J. Gische, J.), entered September 6, 2012, which, insofar as appealed from, denied plaintiff's motion for summary judgment on its claim against defendant Potoschnig for late fees, interest, and attorneys' fees, unanimously reversed, on the law, with costs, the motion granted, and the matter remanded for the appointment of a referee to compute the amount of unpaid common charges and assessments, late fees, and interest due to plaintiff from Potoschnig, and to determine the amount of plaintiff's reasonable attorneys' fees.
Plaintiff's entitlement to unpaid common charges brings with it a right to late fees, interest, and attorneys' fees, all of which are provided for in the condominium by-laws. Defendant has not raised an inference that the late fees and interest, which, in accordance with the by-laws, were imposed only upon default, were usurious ( see Miller Planning Corp. v. Wells, 253 A.D.2d 859, 860, 678 N.Y.S.2d 340 [2d Dept.1998] ). Defendant's challenges to the amounts due may be addressed by a referee, pursuant to RPAPL 1321 ( see 1855 E. Tremont Corp. v. Collado Holdings LLC, 102 A.D.3d 567, 961 N.Y.S.2d 25 [1st Dept.2013] ). The referee should also determine the amount of plaintiff's reasonable attorneys' fees ( seeCPLR 4311).
We do not address the applicability of RPAPL 1303 and 1320 since plaintiff is not seeking foreclosure relief by this appeal. FRIEDMAN, J.P., RENWICK, FREEDMAN, FEINMAN, JJ., concur.