Opinion
2022-50114
02-22-2022
EDJ Realty Inc., Petitioner-Landlord-Appellant, v. Phyllis Sodano, Respondent-Tenant-Respondent, and Joseph Sodano, a/k/a Joey Sodano, "John Doe" & "Jane Doe," Respondents.
Unpublished Opinion
PRESENT: Edmead, P.J., Brigantti, Silvera, JJ.
PER CURIAM.
Landlord, as limited by its briefs, appeals from so much of an order of the Civil Court of the City of New York, Bronx County (Brenda S. Spears, J.), dated October 2, 2018, which dismissed the holdover petition "without prejudice" to landlord's right to commence a plenary action for attorneys' fees and other monetary relief, and an order (same court and Judge) dated February 19, 2019, which denied its motion for, inter alia, a money judgment for rent, use and occupancy, and attorneys' fees.
Order (Brenda S. Spears, J.), dated February 19, 2019, reversed, with $10 costs, the petition reinstated and the matter remanded to Civil Court for further proceedings, including a hearing to determine the amount of use and occupancy and reasonable attorneys' fees due landlord. Appeal from order (same court and Judge), dated October 2, 2018, dismissed, without costs, as academic.
The February 19, 2019 order, which denied landlord's motion, in effect, to vacate or modify a prior order which was not the result of a motion made on notice, is "subject to full appellate review on the merits" (Lamot v. City of New York, 297 A.D.2d 527 [2002]).
Tenant's voluntary vacatur during the pendency of the holdover proceeding did not deprive the court of jurisdiction over the monetary claims contained in the petition, including use and occupancy and attorneys' fees (see Mauer-Bach Realty LLC v Gomez, 43 Misc.3d 141 [A], 2014 NY Slip Op 50845[U] [App Term, 1st Dept 2014]). In dismissing the monetary claims without prejudice to landlord's commencement of a plenary action, Civil Court relied upon a vaguely described stipulation that was never raised by the parties below (or on appeal), and is not in the record.
With respect to attorneys' fees, tenant's determination not to contest the merits of the underlying holdover proceeding resulted in an ultimate outcome wholly favorable to landlord since it obtained the central relief sought, i.e. possession, by reason of tenant's surrender of the unregulated apartment (see Soho Vil. Realty v Gaffney, 188 Misc.2d 261 [App Term, 1st Dept 2001]). In these circumstances, landlord qualifies as a prevailing party entitled to its reasonable attorneys' fees under the lease agreement (see Stribula v Tisdale, 21 Misc.3d 137 [A], 2008 NY Slip Op. 52239[U] [App Term, 1st Dept 2008]). We make no determination with respect to the merits of landlord's remaining claims.