The owner of a Tribeca building is suing a tenant for repeatedly throwing illegal parties in the building with hundreds of attendees in violation of COVID-19 capacity law, according to news reports.
Kurt David, 30, who lived at the building at 1 Harrison Street, has been arrested twice for the parties, including on March 19th when sheriffs broke up a party with more than 123 people drinking alcohol, smoking marijuana, and not wearing masks.
An apparently intoxicated 17-year-old teenager had to be taken to a downtown hospital after he fell down a flight of stairs, according to Sheriff Joseph Fucito. The teenager told investigators he had bought alcohol at the party.
David was charged with selling alcohol to minors, unlawfully dealing with children, and violating emergency orders, and fined $15,000 for failure to protect health and safety. He was previously charged with misdemeanors for another party at the Harrison Street building that sheriffs broke up on February 28th.
The lawsuit, filed by Eisdorfer 69 LLC which owns 1 Harrison Street, alleges that David was no longer a legal tenant after his one-year lease for the second and third floors ended January 31st, the Daily News reported. The lawsuit also named Jean Elbaum-David as another party promoter.
“The scene Defendants have created appears to be that of a nightclub, causing the severe disturbance to last into the early hours of the morning,” the lawsuit said, with the two hosts charging $100 a head. “These parties attract such a high-volume crowd that the Defendants have hired security guards/bouncers to operate the door when letting guests into the Premises.”
The lawsuit also detailed neighbor complaints that fights broke out at the parties, and the large amount of garbage and debris generated by the partygoers, the New York Post said.
David couldn’t be reached for comment but he told the New York Post that he’s a legal resident of the building.
“Rent has been paid on time over the duration of the full-year lease and due to COVID-19, I filed the COVID-19 hardship declaration and the landlord holds $36,000 for two months security and one week free rent,” he said, and added that his lawyer was reviewing the lawsuit.
Eisdorfer 69 LLC is seeking more than $10,000 in damages, a court order to stop the parties and to allow the landlord and the Department of Buildings access into the building, the Post reported.
