Read on Twitter
I’m happy to announce that one of our class action lawsuits against Kushner Companies has achieved class certification in the New York Supreme Court.
We estimate that this ruling could make Kushner liable for approx. $2M in rent overcharges.
(Thread) https://therealdeal.com/2020/11/18/tenants-get-class-status-against-kushner-in-brooklyn-rent-case
We estimate that this ruling could make Kushner liable for approx. $2M in rent overcharges.
(Thread) https://therealdeal.com/2020/11/18/tenants-get-class-status-against-kushner-in-brooklyn-rent-case
Back in 2017, our organization uncovered that Kushner failed to properly register their building at 18 Sidney Place as rent stabilized. Since the building was previously used as student housing, the units were temporarily exempt from rent stabilization laws. However...
2/
2/
... once Kushner purchased the buildings, all of the units were required to be returned to rent stabilization. In spite of that, Kushner registered only 11% of its units as rent stabilized, instead of the 100% required by law.
3/ https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/kushner-companies-flouts-nyc-rent-stabilization-laws-suit-article-1.3632075
3/ https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/kushner-companies-flouts-nyc-rent-stabilization-laws-suit-article-1.3632075
Kushner Companies strongly denied the allegations in the lawsuit at the time of the filing and my (accurate) characterization of the company.
4/
4/
When a court grants class certification, it recognizes that class members have been damaged in similar ways, giving rise to common legal claims. Consequently, the lawsuit is allowed to proceed as a class action.
5/
5/
This class certification is the most consequential development in our four-year investigation into Kushner Companies. This is not the end, it’s only the beginning. The floodgates have officially opened.
6/
6/
HRI has generated 5 lawsuits against Kushner to-date, two of which have now been granted class certification.
Back in 2018 Kushner returned tens of thousands of dollars in rent refunds to tenants at 89 Hicks Street. This case is still ongoing.
7/ https://ny.curbed.com/2018/12/6/18128705/kushner-companies-brooklyn-heights-lawsuit-housing-rights-initiative
Back in 2018 Kushner returned tens of thousands of dollars in rent refunds to tenants at 89 Hicks Street. This case is still ongoing.
7/ https://ny.curbed.com/2018/12/6/18128705/kushner-companies-brooklyn-heights-lawsuit-housing-rights-initiative
Having said all that, I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out that I actually don’t give a shit about Kushner. What I care about is New York State’s broken housing enforcement system that allows real estate companies like Kushner to exist.
8/
8/
This isn’t just a Kushner problem – It’s an enforcement problem. A DHCR problem. A Cuomo problem.
9/
9/
Speaking of Cuomo, back in 2018, in response to another lawsuit we generated against Kushner Companies, Cuomo launched his own investigation into Kushner.
https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/16/politics/new-york-investigation-kushner-companies-tenant-harassment/index.html
10/
https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/16/politics/new-york-investigation-kushner-companies-tenant-harassment/index.html
10/
This announcement was made 2 months before the 2018 gubernatorial primary and, unsurprisingly, we never heard anything about it ever again.
11/
11/
Some people ask where is Waldo, but my question is, where is Cuomo?
12/
12/
The New York State government shouldn't just take over our investigation into Kushner Companies, but all of our investigations into hundreds of landlords across New York City.
Put us out of a job, damnit.
13/
Put us out of a job, damnit.
13/
Support our efforts here: http://www.housingrightsny.org
Follow us here @housingrightsNY
