Woman Sues Landlord for $10 Million Over Nosy Super

A young woman who moved to the Upper East Side after graduation is suing the landlord of her old building because the elderly married superintendents would sometimes enter her apartment without her knowledge. According to court papers, 22-year-old Navah Meller has been left "traumatized" and "unable to sleep" because super Ilona Biro, age 79, allegedly rearranged her belongings, rolling up a tube of toothpaste, opening care packages from her mom, and folding her panties without permission. Meller tells the Daily News, "It's all very creepy. My unmentionables are such a private product... New York is the greatest city in the world—who doesn't want to live here? But this experience has ruined that a bit for me. I was so taken advantage of." Her lawyer is seeking $10 million, and says, "I can't say I know for sure what these folks were doing with Miss Meller's undergarments." But Biro's 84-year-old husband George insists Meller gave them keys and said they could come in to fix leaks. He swears, "I don't know anything about her underwear."

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By John Del Signore in News on March 5, 2009 9:40 AM

Comments [rss]

RRsmile

I LIVED IN THAT BUILDING FOR 10 YEARS!!!! They were so creepy, invasive and 100% nosy! I hope this girl gets a ton of $$$$$!!!!

Past Taliban

Reminds me of the nosy Americans who snuck into Bhagdad to rollup Saddam's tubes of toothpaste, opening care packages from his mom, and folding his panties without permission.

robingee

"But Biro's 84-year-old husband George insists Meller gave them keys and said they could come in to fix leaks."

Well, sure. The super is allowed to enter the unit for emergencies. But only in that instance.

Spirit of 76

I change my locks as soon as I move in. I would never leave the old locks on because you just never know if a previous tenant kept a copy of the keys.

dragnet

No one asked you. Article ain't about you. Damn, typical neurotic crusty new yorker.

NannyState

Panty sniffers of the world unite!

unemployed

This girl has no idea how lucky she is. I would let my super sniff my underwear, eat my care packages and rub my toothpaste all over himself if he would actually come into my apartment to fix things. Also, I don't give my super a key for this exact reason. Once you give him a key and tell him to come over whenever to fix stuff, you've given up all of your control over access.

Steven

I wonder how could she prove he did come into her apartment. Any pictures, video cameras etc?

Gothampc

Once you get a pervy landlord you can never get rid of them. Look at Lucy & Ricky Ricardo. They tried to move to CT to get away from Fred Mertz and Fred just followed them up there.

MrManhattan

Wow, I thought the "Mr Roper" reference was old. Those are some great memories, Gotham!

Gothampc

Yeah, I had to think twice about posting it. I wasn't sure if today's generation loved Lucy.

EricRoberts

I met a temp once who, on her first day on the job, complained about how her landlord was sneaking into her apartment. She changed her locks yet it kept happening. She set up video cameras, but had no concrete evidence of any wrongdoing. I assume she was just mentally ill.

eyekantspel

after seeing her picture, I think the landlord should sue. Hopefully it ends up as a jury trial. "Ladies & Gentlemen of the Jury, I present Exhibit XL"