Paul, Weiss is committed to providing impactful pro bono legal assistance to individuals and organizations in need. Our program is all-encompassing, spanning the core issues facing our society.
Pro Bono Client Obtains Favorable Settlement of Rent Claims by Landlord
- Client News
- April 7, 2022
Paul, Weiss successfully reached a settlement resolving claims for nonpayment of rent brought against a pro bono client by her landlord.
The case was originally brought in February 2020, and in March 2020, the Paul, Weiss team asserted counterclaims on behalf of our client for breach of the warranty of habitability and breach of contract, among others. It was subsequently stayed for nearly two years by New York State’s COVID-19 eviction moratorium, which was lifted on January 15, 2022. Over the course of the moratorium, our client continued to withhold rent in connection with her habitability claims, resulting in her landlord expanding claims for nonpayment to cover approximately 30 months of rent, totaling over $50,000.
The settlement provides that our client will be responsible for only four months’ worth of rent payments, which will be supplemented by additional funds provided by New York State’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program.
Litigation associate Aaron Haier represented the client in Mt. Vernon housing court and negotiated the settlement. Among others, litigation counsel Peter Sandel supervised the matter, along with pro bono special counsel Steve Banks and pro bono attorney Jeremy Benjamin.