HOTEL 237 LLC v. CANMAR RESIDENCE CORP (2024)

Order, Supreme Court, New York County (Debra James, J), entered May 6, 2022, which, to the extent appealed as limited by the briefs, granted defendant landlord use and occupancy pendente lite, unanimously affirmed, without costs.  Appeal from order, same court and Justice, entered June 17, 2022, which granted plaintiff tenant's motion for reargument, and upon reargument, adhered to the order directing plaintiff to pay landlord use and occupancy, unanimously dismissed, without costs, as academic.

“A court has broad discretion in awarding use and occupancy during the pendency of an action” pursuant to Real Property Law § 220 (see 43rd St. Deli, Inc. v. Paramount Leasehold, L.P., 107 A.D.3d 501, 501, 967 N.Y.S.2d 61 [1st Dept. 2013]).  The fact that a party is not in possession does not prevent the court from ordering that party to pay use and occupancy (see Getty Props. Corp. v. Getty Petroleum Mktg., Inc., 106 A.D.3d 429, 430, 966 N.Y.S.2d 1 [1st Dept. 2013]).

Here, upon defendant's motion, the court awarded use and occupancy based upon the monthly rent due under the 2010 lease as is authorized by statute, and plaintiff provided no valid reason not to do so.

We have considered plaintiff's remaining arguments and find them unavailing.