Friday, April 01, 2005
Congregation Fails to Evict Tenant
An eviction battle in New York City is hardly unusual, but the tenant-
versus- rabbi twist in this one got it public attention.
In 2000, a Hasidic congregation, Bnai Abraham Mordechai, bought a
five-story town house on East 38th Street in Manhattan, between
Madison and Park Avenues, and moved to evict four tenants. Three
left, but the fourth, Vicki Ross, was determined to remain in her
rent-stabilized, $1,090-a-month, one-bedroom apartment, her home for
25 years.
The congregation, which meets for services in a building on Fifth
Avenue, said it wanted her space for a nonresidential use like a
library for its members. The congregation's lawyer, James E.
Schwartz, argued that it could refuse to renew her lease given such
an educational use.
Ms. Ross's lawyer, Bruce H. Wiener, said the congregation's rabbi,
Joshua Metzger, wanted her apartment because he wanted to expand the
space his family had moved into below her. Mr. Wiener said that was
not a valid reason to evict her, and that other restrictions in the
rent stabilization law also barred the congregation from evicting
her.
Last month, a Civil Court judge, Peter M. Wendt, ruled in favor of
Ms. Ross. Mr. Schwartz said the congregation would not appeal.
An eviction battle in New York City is hardly unusual, but the tenant-
versus- rabbi twist in this one got it public attention.
In 2000, a Hasidic congregation, Bnai Abraham Mordechai, bought a
five-story town house on East 38th Street in Manhattan, between
Madison and Park Avenues, and moved to evict four tenants. Three
left, but the fourth, Vicki Ross, was determined to remain in her
rent-stabilized, $1,090-a-month, one-bedroom apartment, her home for
25 years.
The congregation, which meets for services in a building on Fifth
Avenue, said it wanted her space for a nonresidential use like a
library for its members. The congregation's lawyer, James E.
Schwartz, argued that it could refuse to renew her lease given such
an educational use.
Ms. Ross's lawyer, Bruce H. Wiener, said the congregation's rabbi,
Joshua Metzger, wanted her apartment because he wanted to expand the
space his family had moved into below her. Mr. Wiener said that was
not a valid reason to evict her, and that other restrictions in the
rent stabilization law also barred the congregation from evicting
her.
Last month, a Civil Court judge, Peter M. Wendt, ruled in favor of
Ms. Ross. Mr. Schwartz said the congregation would not appeal.
Comments:
http://rentstabilizedtenant@blogspot.com
Comment Credit ---This article posted by 
: May 01, 2005 12:42 PM
: May 01, 2005 12:42 PM
Rabbi Metzger was proven a sham and a liar in court and it was all a real estate fraud.
His witnesses were all "Straw Men."
His witnesses were all "Straw Men."
Comment Credit ---This article posted by : May 19, 2005 6:24 PM
: May 19, 2005 6:24 PM
The rabbi continues his unethical practices and is now looking into other buildings to use them for his own interests.
Comment Credit ---This article posted by : August 28, 2005 10:46 AM
: August 28, 2005 10:46 AM
he is the same as most other rabbis just that justice finally caught him bc he was a pig to boot
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Comment Credit ---This article posted by : February 25, 2006 11:26 AM
: February 25, 2006 11:26 AM
