News

Wolf Haldenstein Mostly Wins ‘Scorched-Earth’ Rent Row

November 23, 2021 – Media Mention
Law360

Herrick litigation partner Scott E. Mollen spoke to Law360 about a recent multi-million dollar award on behalf of client, the highly respected plaintiff's class action law firm Wolf Haldenstein Adler Freeman & Herz LLP ("Wolf Haldenstein"), in a dispute with their Manhattan landlord. Wolf Haldenstein sued in April, alleging it was owed rent credits and damages because the landlord failed to complete office renovations required under a 2019 lease agreement.

In a ruling released earlier this week, the Hon. Barry R. Ostrager of the State of New York Supreme Court, Commercial Division, affirmed that 270 Madison Avenue Associates LLC and Independence 270 Madison LLC, entities affiliated with ABS Partners Real Estate, failed to properly renovate office space leased by Wolf Haldenstein and dismissed the landlord's counterclaim for allegedly owed  back rent.

Scott commented, "We thank the court for its work on this unfortunate and contentious litigation," adding, "It takes two reasonable sides to reach a settlement, and Wolf Haldenstein maintained through the proceeding that it was always willing to resolve this dispute on a reasonable basis. Litigation was a last resort."

Scott noted, "Given the amount owed already to Wolf Haldenstein and the landlord's record of taking a Band-Aid approach to addressing the problem instead of recognizing the actual scope of the problems, further delays by the landlord may result in the landlord owing Wolf Haldenstein $2-3 million."

Read the full piece in Law360 here. Access may require a subscription.