Background:

In March of 2009, the State Appellate Court ruled unanimously that Tishman Speyer - and MetLife before it - improperly deregulated some 4,400 Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village apartments while receiving more than $24 million in tax abatements under J-51, a City program intended to encourage landlords to improve their properties.  This case is known as the "Roberts" case, also  referred to as the "J-51" case.

Shortly thereafter, the Appellate Court gave leave  to the defendants, Tishman Speyer and MetLife, to appeal the State's highest court, the Court of Appeals.  Oral arguments have been heard and the case is pending final decision.

On October 22, 2009 the Court of Appeals upheld the Appellate Court's decision. This may be viewed as a victory for tenants.

The case has been remanded to NYS Supreme Court for resolution.  This means attorneys for the plaintiff and the defendants have been in settlement talks since the above-mentioned decision.

See The June 2010 Updated Frequently Asked Questions Document Here:

http://www.stpcvta.org/kb/entry/28/