The Court Case
In late 2003, after receiving the Notices of Non Renewal of leases, and under the threat of eviction, the tenants hired the law firm of Collins, Dobkin and Miller to represent them in Housing Court.
In 2005 they took the case to the State Supreme Court, challenging the legality of the Economakis's unprecedented owner-use plan.
On December 20, 2005, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the tenants, declaring that an owner attempting to take over all apartments in a stabilized building and thereby removing it from rent-stabilization, must first get permission from the state's Division of Housing and Community Renewal.
On February 15, 2007, on the landlord's appeal, the Appellate Division ruled that there was no limit on the number of apartments a building owner can remove from rent stabilization for personal use.
On October 23, 2007, the Court of Appeals, the State's highest court, agreed to hear the tenants' case.
On June 3, 2008, the Court of Appeals upheld the Appellate ruling.
