Abrams v 4-6-8, LLC

Abrams v 4-6-8, LLC 2014 NY Slip Op 08486 Decided on December 4, 2014 Appellate Division, First Department Published by New York State Law Reporting Bureau pursuant to Judiciary Law § 431. This opinion is uncorrected and subject to revision before publication in the Official Reports.

Decided on December 4, 2014
Tom, J.P., Sweeny, DeGrasse, Feinman, Gische, JJ.
13666 570765/12

[*1] Judith Ann Abrams, Petitioner-Respondent-Appellant,

v

4-6-8, LLC, et al., Respondents-Appellants-Respondents, The Department of Housing Preservation and Development (DHPD), Respondent.

Rosenberg & Estis, P.C., New York (Michael E. Feinstein of counsel), for appellants-respondents.

Hartman, Ule, Rose & Ratner, LLP, New York (David Ratner of counsel), for respondent-appellant.

Order of the Appellate Term of the Supreme Court, First Department, entered December 28, 2012, which affirmed a judgment of the Civil Court, New York County (David B. Cohen, J.), entered on or about January 28, 2010, after a nonjury trial, dismissing the petition, and reversed a judgment, same court (David J. Kaplan, J.), entered March 21, 2011, after a hearing, awarding respondents 4-6-8, LLC, Transrealty Inc. and Michael King (the owner) attorneys' fees, unanimously affirmed, without costs.

Dismissal of the petition was based on a fair interpretation of the evidence, consisting largely of credibility findings with respect to the parties' experts. The owner was the prevailing

party in having obtained dismissal (see Solow v Wellner, 205 AD2d 339 [1st Dept 1994], affd 86 NY2d 582 [1995]). However, its claim for attorneys' fees was properly denied, this matter having been unnecessarily prolonged by both sides (see Solow Mgt. Corp. v Lowe, 1 AD3d 135 [1st Dept 2003]).

We do not reach the collateral issue regarding the interpretation of the attorneys' fees provision of the lease because it was not raised at the trial level.

We have considered the parties' other arguments for affirmative relief and find them unavailing.

THIS CONSTITUTES THE DECISION AND ORDER

OF THE SUPREME COURT, APPELLATE DIVISION, FIRST DEPARTMENT.

ENTERED: DECEMBER 4, 2014

CLERK