Abuelafiya v. Orena

• Decision Date: 17 September 2021
• Docket Number: 2021-21247,Index LT-152-20/HU
• Parties: Mary Abuelafiya, Petitioner, v. Paul Orena, Mary Orena, Respondents.
• Court: New York District Court

Mary Abuelafiya, Petitioner,
v.
Paul Orena, Mary Orena, Respondents.

No. 2021-21247

Index No. LT-152-20/HU

District Court of Suffolk County, Third District

September 17, 2021

C. Stephen Hackeling, J.

Upon the following papers numbered 1-14

Read on this Order to Cause

Notice of Motion/Order to Show Cause and supporting papers 1-9

Notice of Cross Motion and supporting papers

Answering Affidavits and supporting papers

Affirmation in Opposition and supporting papers 10 -14

Replying Affidavits and supporting papers

Filed papers

Other

The respondents, Paul and Mary Orena (hereafter "tenants"), move by application dated August 20, 2021, seeking to stay and/or vacate their warrant of eviction pursuant to New York RPAPL Sec. 749 (3) and also pursuant to New York's Emergency Rental Assistance Program (hereafter "ERAP") law and the U.S. Center for Disease Control (hereafter "CDC") order issued August 3, 2021 pursuant to regulation 70.2 implementing 42 USC Sec. 264.

The Undisputed Facts

It is either conceded or not disputed by the parties that the tenants rented the real property premises owned by petitioner Mary Abuelafiya (hereafter "the landlord") at 3 Dolphin's Rise, Lloyd Harbor, New York, on August 24, 2019. The lease was in writing and for one year and one week running through August 31, 2020 at a monthly payment rate of $6, 800.00. The tenants defaulted in making rent payments after March 2020. The landlord's 2020 non-payment petition was adjourned as a result of the Court's COVID closure until May 6, 2021. A warrant of eviction was issued May 26, 2021 as the tenants did not appear and did not file a COVID-19 Hardship Declarations prior to said date. The tenants assert they filed such a Declaration dated May 4, 2021 via fax but could not produce a written confirmation of same. To this date the Court has not received the tenants hardship declaration, although they have had multiple Court appearance opportunities to file same.

After service of the Sheriff' 14 day eviction notice, the tenants filed an Order to Show Cause dated July 15, 2021 seeking to vacate their default asserting the New York's Emergency Eviction and Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2020 moratorium. The tenants presently owe over $113, 000.00 of rent. Said application was withdrawn after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled said statute unconstitutional. Prior to the withdrawal, the tenants conceded they own another house in Atlantic Beach, New York, but do not...