Tenants who live in buildings owned by notorious landlord Steve Croman may be eligible for restitution. After an $8 million settlement against Croman—the largest ever against an individual landlord in NYC—the New York Attorney General’s office is encouraging tenants to check if they are eligible and if so, to file a claim.
The restitution fund was announced by the AG Barbara Underwood’s office back in August, following Croman’s release after serving an eight-month prison sentence for engaging in illegal conduct that included harassing rent-stabilized tenants, tax fraud, and grand larceny. The settlement is separate from a $5 million penalty brought against Croman by the attorney general’s office.
“Again and again, Steve Croman acted as though he was above the law,” Underwood says. “I encourage eligible tenants to submit a claim by November 4 so they can receive the restitution they deserve. We will continue to aggressively pursue predatory landlords to the fullest extent of the law.”
Tenants are eligible to file a claim if they lived in a rent-stabilized or rent-controlled apartment owned by Croman between July 1, 2011 and December 20, 2017 and did not receive a buyout of $20,000 or more from Croman or his employees. Both stipulations must be met and only tenants named on the lease are eligible for payment.
“No amount of money can ever make up for the amount of suffering that Croman tenants endured, but this is a historic settlement in New York City, and we are very grateful for all the attorney general’s office did to secure the restitution fund,” says Cynthia Chaffee, a Croman tenant and founder of the Stop Croman Coalition, in a statement to Curbed.
To submit a claim, tenants must complete a claim form and release, found here, and the deadline to submit is November 4. The restitution fund’s website has additional information.
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