On October 17, 2019, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit unanimously affirmed the judgment of the Bankruptcy Court that denied a motion filed by the debtor-landlord to sell the subject property (a downtown Manhattan loft building) “free and clear” of the possessory interests of statutory Loft Law tenants. The Loft Law tenants were represented by Warshaw Burstein. The Second Circuit’s Summary Order, in In re Bridge Associates of SOHO, Inc., confirmed that a landlord who has failed to comply with the Loft Law and legalize a building for residential use is barred from collecting any rent from, or seeking to dispossess, the tenants. This decision represents a major victory for the rights of Loft Law tenants. Litigation partner Bruce H. Wiener argued the appeal and Slava Hazin was on the Brief.

His quote,"In exchange for our failure to erect a 17th-century barrier, we're creating enormous holes in our 21st-century technology," highlights the ripple effect of issues the government shutdown is creating.

Real Estate group chair Harvey Krasner discussed the firm’s representation of the owner of the New York City restaurant Sel Rrose in purchasing the Montauk building that formerly housed a branch of Zum Schneider.

Sel Rrose will open a Montauk location of its New York Parisian-themed restaurant in the spring of 2019.

27East.com is the web site of The Southampton Press and East Hampton Press.

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In a New York Times article about the proposed changes to Title IX, Warshaw Burstein Partner Kimberly Lau brought a fresh perspective to this highly charged discussion.  She commented for a Times story that examined the impact the new rules would have on the number of misconduct investigations. The DOE estimated they will decline in K-12 schools by 50%, and at higher ed institutions by 39%.  

Ms. Lau said equating the decline in investigations to a lack of regard for complainants “misses the big picture.”

“The decline in investigations may decrease the pressure on schools to be results-oriented in their approach and more focused on how the process is implemented,” Ms. Lau said. “If the department is focused on the process, then the right outcomes will naturally result one way or another.”

She represents complainants and respondents in Title IX cases, as well as faculty.

To read the full Times story, click here:

Promise Project is a non-profit group dedicated to helping children with learning disabilities. The organization functions in collaboration with Columbia University Medical Center and provides support for underserved children with learning disabilities in northern Manhattan.