Court Grants LSNYC, Groups Motion to Intervene in Lawsuit Attack Rent Reforms

September 23, 2019, New York, NY – Legal Services NYC, Legal Aid Society, and Selendy & Gay PLLC lauded a court ruling today by the U.S. Eastern District of New York granting a motion to intervene on behalf of N.Y. Tenants and Neighbors (T&N), Community Voices Heard (CVH), and the Coalition for the Homeless (the Coalition) on Community Housing Improvement Program, et al, City of New York – litigation recently brought to dismantle the historic statewide housing reforms enacted into law this past June and New York’s long standing rent stabilization laws that have existed since 1968.

The motion argued that Petitioners have standing and the right to intervene on behalf of T&N, CVH, and the Coalition as these organizations represent thousands of members who are rent stabilized tenants and who stand to lose their homes, as well as homeless people who will not be able to find housing if Plaintiffs in the aforementioned lawsuit succeed. The Court also granted Petitioners’ leave to file a motion to dismiss.

“We are pleased with the court’s decision to allow tenant groups to intervene in this frivolous lawsuit attacking critical New York City rent protections,” said Ed Josephson, Director of Litigation and Housing at Legal Services NYC. “These rent reforms were put in place for a reason – to protect New York City families’ access to safe and affordable housing in a city where more and more people are being priced out. We look forward to bringing this lawsuit to an end very soon.”

“The court made the right decision allowing New York’s tenants and homeless people to have voice in this litigation to safeguard the historic housing reforms enacted in June and the protections afforded by our long-standing rent laws system,” said Judith Goldiner, Attorney-In-Charge of the Civil Law Reform Unit at The Legal Aid Society. “We look forward to swiftly defeating this lawsuit for our clients and other renters throughout the state.”
 

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The Legal Aid Society exists for one simple yet powerful reason: to ensure that New Yorkers are not denied their right to equal justice because of poverty. For over 140 years, we have protected, defended, and advocated for those who have struggled in silence for far too long. Every day, in every borough, The Legal Aid Society changes the lives of our clients and helps improve our communities. www.legalaidnyc.org

Legal Services NYC (LSNYC) fights poverty and seeks justice for low income New Yorkers. For over 50 years, we have challenged systemic injustice and helped clients meet basic needs for housing, income and economic security, family and immigration stability, education, and health care. LSNYC is the largest civil legal services provider in the country and our staff of over 550 helps more than 110,000 New Yorkers annually across all five boroughs.