Opinion
22791.
November 21, 2002.
Appeal by landlord from (1) an order of the Civil Court, Queens County (P. Jackman-Brown, J.), dated September 18, 2001, granting a motion by tenant to dismiss the petition on the ground that the petition failed to allege that the tenancy was rent-stabilized, and (2) an order of said court (J. Grayshaw, J.), dated October 15, 2001, denying landlord's motion to amend the petition.
Michael R. Curran, Rego Park, for appellant.
Legal Aid Society, Kew Gardens (Josephine C. Flores of counsel), for respondent.
PRESENT: PESCE, P. J., PATTERSON and GOLIA, JJ.
MEMORANDUM.
Order dated September 18, 2001 unanimously reversed without costs, petition reinstated, and motion by tenant to dismiss denied.
Order dated October 15, 2001 unanimously reversed without costs, motion by landlord to amend granted, and petition deemed to allege that the tenancy is subject to rent stabilization and that the premises is duly registered.
Although we agree with landlord that it was, under the circumstances, an improvident exercise of discretion for the court to adjourn the trial in order for tenant to move to dismiss, we nevertheless reach the merits of the motion in the interest of judicial economy.
Contrary to landlord's contention, tenant's Section 8 (Existing Housing Program) tenancy is subject to rent stabilization ( Mott v New York State Div. of Hous. and Community Renewal, 211 A.D.2d 147, 151; Fishel v New York City Conciliation and Appeals Bd., 123 Misc.2d 841; Tann Realty Co. v Thompson, 112 Misc.2d 392), and landlord was required to so allege in the petition, in addition to alleging the Section 8 status (RPAPL 741; MSG Pomp Corp. v Doe, 185 A.D.2d 798 [1st Dept]; Villas of Forest Hills Co. v Lumberger, 128 A.D.2d 701 [2d Dept]; cf. 433 Assocs. v Murdock, 276 A.D.2d 360 [1st Dept] [petition must allege Section 8 status]). However, contrary to the housing court's determination, landlord's failure to make the required allegation in the petition did not deprive the court of subject matter jurisdiction or otherwise render the petition "jurisdictionally defective" ( Villas of Forest Hills Co. v Lumberger, supra [2d Dept]; Birchwood Towers #2 Assoc. v Schwartz, 98 A.D.2d 699, 700 [2d Dept]; see 433 Assocs. v Murdock, supra [1st Dept]; Paikoff v Harris, 185 Misc.2d 372, 375-376; but see MSG Pomp Corp. v Doe, supra [1st Dept]; Giannini v Stuart, 6 A.D.2d 418 [1st Dept]; cf. Clarke v Wallace Oil Co., 284 A.D.2d 492, 493 [2d Dept] [discussed infra]). In the absence of any demonstrable prejudice to tenant, we deem the petition amended to state that the premises is subject to rent stabilization and that it is duly registered.
We note that cases such as Giannini v Stuart ( supra), holding that misstatements with respect to the rent regulatory status of a premises render a petition "jurisdictionally defective," were expressly disapproved by the Appellate Division, Second Department in Birchwood Towers #2 Assoc. v Schwartz ( supra) based on Court of Appeals' decisions holding that such cases "exemplify an improper use of the term jurisdiction" (Thrasher v United States Liab. Ins. Co., 19 N.Y.2d 159, 166; see also Lacks v Lacks, 41 N.Y.2d 71, 75). We further note that the Appellate Division, First Department has also now adopted the more liberal rule of construction (433 Assocs. v Murdock, supra) and has stated that a rule of strict construction was applied in MSG Pomp Corp. v Doe (supra) only as a matter of equity (Hughes v Lenox Hill Hosp., 226 A.D.2d 4, 18). In view of the foregoing, the recent decision by the Appellate Division, Second Department in Clarke v Wallace Oi Co. (supra), which held, citing MSG Pomp Corp. as authority, that a misdescription in a petition of the premises deprives the court of "subject matter jurisdiction", must be limited to its own facts.
The housing court's dismissal of the petition here was also predicated on a determination that only the last of the termination notices sent by landlord to tenant was operative and that that notice was not served in the manner required by the lease. However, inasmuch as the Section 8 lease expired by its own terms prior to the commencement of this proceeding, any defects in the service of the notice terminating the lease are irrelevant. To the extent that a notice was required by Section 2524.2 of the Rent Stabilization Code to terminate the tenancy, that notice did not have to be served in the manner set forth in the lease because the lease provision was applicable only to notices "required under this lease," and the RSC notice is not such a notice. In any event, we disagree with the Housing Court's determination that the last notice, which referenced the earlier notices, vitiated the prior notices, which were served in accordance with the terms of the lease. Contrary to tenant's contention, these notices amply advised tenant of the facts supporting landlord's termination of her tenancy.
PESCE, P.J., PATTERSON and GOLIA, JJ., concur.