Features
Stewart E. Sterk
New York City's rent stabilization law has long permitted a building's owner to recover possession of an apartment when the owner seeks to use the apartment as a primary residence for himself or members of his immediate family. Suppose, however, an owner seeks to convert an entire apartment building to single-family use. May the owner refuse to renew the leases of multiple rent-stabilized tenants? In a decision certain to be appealed, a Manhattan Supreme Court justice has held that the answer is no ' unless the landlord seeks and obtains approval from the Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR).
ALM Staff
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Law Journal Newsletters
An easy-to-read list of everything contained in this issue.
Features
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Law Journal Newsletters
Recent rulings of interest to you and your practice.
Jerome A. Wisselman
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John Virdone
<b><i>Part One of a Two-Part Article.</i></b> The sensational, celebrity-filled Anthony Pellicano wiretapping case in California has been grabbing headlines for weeks now. Pellicano, a private detective, is accused, along with several others, of illegally listening in on the private conversations of some of Hollywood's elite in order to gain an advantage for his clients in legal and other matters. Wiretapping issues have also found their way into family law matters.
John R. Johnson
In last month's article, we explored the many issues that involve the court-appointed valuation/financial expert. Many of the problems such experts encounter are the result of a lack of clarity and specificity in the order appointing them, and a general lack of guidelines for the expert to follow. The Matrimonial Commission, appointed by the Chief Justice Judith Kaye and chaired by Justice Sondra Miller, undertook a detailed review of this area in an attempt to remedy the problem. This author served on the Commission as its only financial evaluation expert. After review, the Committee drafted a model order for the appointment of the valuation/financial expert, and published it in Appendix K of its report. Let us now look at the problems and issues related to the appointment of a valuation/financial expert, and focus on the resolutions recommended by the Commission.
ALM Staff
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Law Journal Newsletters
European Music Industry Files 2000 Lawsuits in 10 Countries<br>Online Ad Revenue Grows For Third Year in a Row<br>Arkansas Judge Approves Google Settlement<br>NY Attorney General Sues Major 'Spyware' Internet Company
Features
ALM Staff
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Law Journal Newsletters
Will New York residents who travel to Massachusetts lawfully be able to marry their same-sex partners there under Massachusetts law? For now, the question remains unanswered.
Xenia P. Kobylarz
The patent dispute between online DVD rental rivals Netflix Inc. and Blockbuster Inc. not only pits two big-name competitors against each other, but it also highlights the ongoing debate over Internet business-method patents.
Features
Benjamin E. Schub
Special Referee James A. Montagnino (Supreme Court, Westchester County) wrote an insightful Outside Counsel article for <i>The New York Law Journal</i> (a sister publication of this newsletter) in March 2002 concerning the crediting of college expenses against child support. (Montagnino, JA.: Crediting College Expenses Against Child Support. <i>NYLJ</i>, March 18, 2002.) As he explained in that article, under New York's Child Support Standards Act (CSSA), a noncustodial parent may be required to contribute to the costs of his or her child's college education, including room and board, above and beyond the basic child support obligation mandated by the CSSA. See Domestic Relations Law ' 240 [1-b] [b] [2]; Family Court Act ' 413 [1] [c] [7]. However, such contributions may lead to a double payment by the noncustodial parent for room and board, since the basic child support obligation as calculated under the CSSA guidelines includes the cost of food and shelter for a child.
Features
Michael Berry
An age-old question of Internet law has heated up the intrastate rivalry between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, but this time it's not sports teams or gubernatorial candidates; it's judges. Yes, judges.<br>The question: When can an anonymous Internet speaker accused of defamation be unmasked? The combatants: Judge Albert Sheppard of Phila-delphia and Judge R. Stanton Wettick of Pittsburgh ' two of Pennsylvania's most respected jurists. If Pennsylvania can be split on the issue, so can other states. Which argument is correct?
