Bronx Tenant Wins $165,000 Settlement Against Landlord Following Severe Harassment, Discrimination and Illegal Lockout

Bronx, NY – In a victory for tenants everywhere, Bronx tenant A.T. (who is going by their initials for privacy reasons) won an astonishing $165,000 settlement against his landlord who for months, severely harassed and discriminated against A.T. The illegal behavior included turning off A.T.’s power, shutting off his heat during winter, refusing to give him a lease, failing to make repairs, breaking into his home, throwing out all his belongings, and illegally locking him out of his apartment. A.T. was represented by Bronx Legal Services and the law firm McDermott Will & Emery. 

“No one should have to go through what I experienced—constant harassment, having my belongings stolen, and being illegally locked out of my own home,” said tenant A.T. “I lived in constant fear of my landlord. I am thankful that they are finally being held accountable. I’m just trying to work, go to school, and live my life – I hope my case inspires others to stand up and fight back.” 

A.T. filed a lawsuit against his landlord in 2021 after the landlord refused to give him a lease with his name on it, citing the fact that he was only 25 years old and insisting that his mother also be listed on the lease. When A.T. refused to sign the inappropriate lease (his mother is NYCHA resident and can’t legally be on another lease), the landlord started a harassment campaign to attempt to force him to leave, including turning off A.T.’s power and heat during the winter, refusing to make repairs, and ultimately illegally locking him out and breaking into his apartment to throw out his personal belongings. The lawsuit alleged age discrimination under the NYC Human Rights Law, retaliation, illegal eviction, and tenant harassment, among other things. 

A.T., who was working a job and was a college student, was forced to drop out because he couldn’t connect to his classes due to power outages and was too stressed over his landlords’ harassment to concentrate. He lived in daily fear of leaving his home, even to buy food, for fear that his landlord would break into his apartment again.  

Thankfully, A.T. found Legal Services NYC, who helped him file a lawsuit against the landlord. The landlords, who failed to show up for a judicial inquest, eventually settled with A.T., agreeing to pay him $165,000, including $75,000 in one lump sum and an additional $90,000 in $2,000 monthly installments. If they fail to pay, the settlement stipulates the landlord will be on the hook for $287,000 total, an amount originally ordered by the court to be paid which was vacated when the parties agreed to settle. The law firm McDermott Will & Emery helped bring the landlords to the negotiating table and structure the settlement agreement.  
 

“We hope this settlement sends a strong message to landlords that tenant harassment, discrimination against young people, and illegal lockouts have consequences,” said Eliza Schafler, a housing attorney at Legal Services NYC who worked on the case. “We are thrilled for our client and thankful to McDermott Will & Emery for their help getting this settlement over the finish line.”  

“We are proud to have supported A.T., alongside Bronx Legal Services, in upholding New York City’s residential tenants’ rights code,” said McDermott Will & Emery partner Joe Evans. “It is imperative that the rule of law be maintained to protect citizens from harassment and retaliation, regardless of income or age. We are pleased to have reached such a favorable settlement for our client, and we look forward to continue working with Bronx Legal Services.”