By Adam Leitman Bailey, Title Partner Newly constructed condominium buildings suffering from serious structural and nonstructural defects have infected my firm’s litigation caseload. Because of a total disregard of New York City’s fire and safety requirements, and the failure to provide insulation, a leak-free roof, a functioning HVAC system, and hundreds of other repairs, one Full Article…
Legal Quandries and How They Were Resolved, Habitat Magazine
“AVOID LAWSUITS BEYOND ALL THINGS; they pervert your conscience, impair your health, and dissipate your property.” Said French writer Jean De La Bruyere in the 1670s, and his statement holds true today. Nothing is more irksome than a long, drawn-out, complicated, and expensive legal battle. Sound legal advice can be a saving grace. That’s why Full Article…
New Home Warranty: An Open Question Seeking an Answer, New York Law Journal
By Adam Leitman Bailey and John M. Desiderio In 1998, in Fumarelli v. Marsam Construction, Inc.1 the New York Court of Appeals decided that the statutory housing merchant implied warranty contained in Article 36-B of the General Business Law2 “effects a complete substitute for the common law remedy” that the Court itself first proclaimed ten Full Article…
Standing to Sue Sham Condo, Co-Op Sponsors Changed, New York Law Journal
By Adam Leitman Bailey and John M. Desiderio Kramer v. W10Z/515 Real Estate Ltd. Partnership, 1 a recent decision of the Appellate Division, First Department, is a case of great importance to purchasers of new condominium and cooperative apartment units. In a sweeping opinion, the court completely overhauled, if not expressly overruled, a line of Full Article…
The Newly Constructed or Converted Condominium, The Cooperator
By Adam Leitman Bailey and John M. Desiderio At the height of the housing boom, some builders attempted to recapture profits lost in the price they paid for their properties by cutting costs spent on labor and materials, and many others could not find good contractors or obtain low prices for building materials. At the Full Article…
Navigating Buyers and Developers Through New Construction Deals, New York Law Journal
By Adam Leitman Bailey and John M. Desiderio In late 2008, the real estate sky had started to fall and fall quickly. As a result of the loss of financing and wages, many purchasers in contract to buy a unit in a newly constructed building were either no longer able or willing to close on Full Article…
Adam Leitman Bailey Gives Advice on Best/Worst Board Practices in Habitat Magazine’s 2003 Attorney Survey
By Adam Leitman Bailey The most effective board of directors recognize that its cooperative is not only the home of many residents but a business as well. When dealing with the business side, the best boards act in the best interest of the shareholders at all times. With each decision, the financial consequences are evaluated Full Article…
What You Must Know When Negotiating a Rooftop Antenna Contract, The Cooperator
By Adam Leitman Bailey and Dov Treiman As the trilogy of real estate values rising, building usage changing, and cellphone and Internet communications became universal, wireless telecommunications companies became popular defendants in the Commercial Part of New York’s Civil Court. Owners began examining their rooftop antenna agreements to determine means to terminate them. Many of Full Article…