Governor Cuomo Extends Response Window for Tenants

Governor Cuomo signed a new order on November 3rd creating a 60-day window for tenants to answer eviction filings to avoid default judgements.

Of more than 17,000 residential nonpayment cases filed since June 22, 15% of tenants had answered as of October 29.

The language used by Governor Cuomo is vague and appears to be up to the interpretation of individual judges.

The new order comes after tenant attorneys expressed concerns about their clients having sufficient time to respond to filings, despite landlord attorneys raising fears that owners’ needs are becoming increasingly dire.

Kucker Marino Winiarsky & Bittens partner Nativ Winiarsky told Law360, “The system is about to collapse and all for the sake of short-term political expediency.”

Read the full article here.