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BML Realty Group v. Samuels

Appellate Term of the Supreme Court of New York, First Department
Feb 26, 2007
15 Misc. 3d 30 (N.Y. App. Term 2007)

Summary

reversing lower court's denial of motion to vacate stipulation of settlement entered into by respondent's GAL

Summary of this case from Project Renewal, Inc. v. Rodriguez

Opinion

No. 570131/06.

February 26, 2007.

APPEAL from an order of the Civil Court of the City of New York, New York County (Laurie L. Lau, J.), dated February 7, 2006. The order denied respondent's motion to vacate a stipulation of settlement, judgment of possession and warrant of eviction in a holdover summary proceeding.

Andrea Risoli, Eastchester, for appellant. Thomas Fleishell Associates, New York City ( Lisa Ornest of counsel), for respondent.

Before; McKEON, P.J., McCOOE and SCHOENFELD, JJ.


OPINION OF THE COURT


Order, dated February 7, 2006, reversed, with $10 costs, motion granted, stipulation and final judgment vacated, and matter remanded to Civil Court for further proceedings.

In this nuisance holdover proceeding, a guardian ad litem (GAL) was appointed for tenant upon application of the Department of Social Services because tenant, who was 69 years old, mentally ill and blind, was incapable of adequately defending his rights. Two weeks later, the guardian entered into a stipulation providing for a judgment of possession in landlord's favor, issuance of the warrant of eviction "forthwith" and a 30-day stay of execution of the warrant. The stipulation was executed even though the GAL did not meet with tenant or visit the apartment premises, and notwithstanding that the parties were aware that Adult Protective Services intended to commence a Mental Hygiene Law article 81 proceeding for the appointment of a guardian on behalf of tenant. The article 81 proceeding was commenced two months later and resulted in the appointment of a guardian for the person and property of tenant.

In light of these particular circumstances, we favorably exercise our discretion and grant the motion to vacate the stipulation and final judgment. In the absence of any concrete plan in place to relocate the elderly infirm tenant, the one-sided stipulation terminating his 30-year rent-stabilized tenancy with a 30-day stay of the warrant of eviction, should not be permitted to stand, especially considering that the parties were aware that the commencement of an article 81 proceeding was imminent ( see Matter of Aho, 39 NY2d 241, 246-248; Matter of Sills v Fleet Natl. Bank, 32 AD3d 1157). Good cause to vacate the stipulation is demonstrated where, as here, it appears that a party has "inadvertently, inadvisably or improvidently entered into an agreement which will take the case out of the due and ordinary course of proceeding in the action, and in so doing may work to his prejudice" ( Matter of Frutiger, 29 NY2d 143, 150 [internal quotation marks omitted]). In light of the court's "continuing obligation to supervise the guardian ad litem's work . . . its ultimate responsibility for the GAL's determinations . . . and its responsibility, in particular, for overseeing settlements of proceedings involving those who are unable to defend themselves" ( New York City Hous. Auth. v Jackson, 13 Misc 3d 141 [A], 2006 NY Slip Op 52265[U], *2 [2006] [citations and internal quotation marks omitted]), we vacate the stipulation as inadvisably entered into and remand for further proceedings.


Summaries of

BML Realty Group v. Samuels

Appellate Term of the Supreme Court of New York, First Department
Feb 26, 2007
15 Misc. 3d 30 (N.Y. App. Term 2007)

reversing lower court's denial of motion to vacate stipulation of settlement entered into by respondent's GAL

Summary of this case from Project Renewal, Inc. v. Rodriguez

In BML Realty, the GAL had never met with the respondent or visited the subject premises, and had no plan regarding relocation of the elderly tenant.

Summary of this case from Arthur Management Co. v. Zuck
Case details for

BML Realty Group v. Samuels

Case Details

Full title:BML REALTY GROUP, Respondent, v. JACK SAMUELS, Appellant

Court:Appellate Term of the Supreme Court of New York, First Department

Date published: Feb 26, 2007

Citations

15 Misc. 3d 30 (N.Y. App. Term 2007)
2007 N.Y. Slip Op. 27073
833 N.Y.S.2d 348

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