Herbert Paul v. 370 Lex, L.L.C.

An individual sued the tenant in the adjoining office, the building owner, and the property management company for smoke drifting into his office from the adjoining office. The court found that the complaining tenant could proceed to trial with his claim for breach of the covenant of quiet enjoyment. Additionally, the court found that the tenant could proceed with his nuisance claim against his neighbor but not against the building owner or property management company because they did not have control of the property. The court dismissed the tenant’s claims for violation of a state and local law regulating smoking because the state law does not allow for a private cause of action and the local law allows smoking in a private office if no more than three people are present, as was the case here.

Herbert Paul, CPA, PC v. 370 Lex, L.L.C., 794 N.Y.S.2d 869 (2005).

  • United States
  • Mar 2, 2005
  • Supreme Court, New York County
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Parties

Plaintiff Herbert Paul, CPA, PC

Defendant

  • 370 Lex, L.L.C.
  • 370 Lexington Avenue LLC
  • Murray Hill Property Management, Inc.
  • Richard Anderson

Legislation Cited

New York City Smoke-Free Air Act, Administrative Code of New York City, title 17, chapter 5

New York State Public Health Law article 13-e

Related Documents

Type of Litigation

Tobacco Control Topics

Substantive Issues

Type of Tobacco Product

None

"Although the chapter of the Administrative Code of the City of New York in effect at the time did not have a provision limiting private causes of action, as Public Health Law § 1399-w does, no such private cause of action is specifically granted under the chapter. In any event, defendants 370 and Murray Hill have demonstrated that they are entitled to summary judgment on that portion of plaintiff's second cause of action because only two people occupied the suite of defendant Anderson. They both consented to smoking therein, and agreed that, if so, they would not violate any laws. Plaintiff's argument that the number of plaintiff's employees exceeded the limit of that Administrative Code of the City of New York provision misses the point. The material number of employees thereunder was the number who were employed in the office where the smoking was taking place, not the number in plaintiff's suite. Plaintiff has not shown that there is any question of fact as to that part of the second cause. of action, and thus, by this court's separate decision and order, that branch too has been dismissed as against defendants 370 and Murray Hill. Although defendant Anderson may be liable to plaintiff for a private nuisance (see Copart Indus. v Consolidated Edison Co. of N.Y., 41 NY2d 564, 569-570 [1977]), defendants 370 and Murray Hill are not. They did not create the smoke infiltration condition which plaintiff claims constituted a nuisance, and they gave up control of the premises to defendant Anderson by leasing possession thereof to him (see Bernard v, 345 E. 73rd Owners Corp., 181 AD2d at 544). Thus, the nuisance cause of action has been dismissed as against defendants 370 and Murray Hill."