Chidi Eze, et al., appellants, v. Spring Creek Gardens, etc., et al., respondents, et al., defendants. (2011)

Argued—June 13, 2011

DECISION & ORDER

In an action, inter alia, to recover damages for unlawful eviction, the plaintiffs appeal from an order of the Supreme Court, Kings County (Martin, J.), dated April 26, 2010, which granted the motion of the defendants Spring Creek Gardens and Betty Perry for summary judgment dismissing the complaint insofar as asserted against them.

ORDERED that the order is affirmed, with costs.

In a summary proceeding to restore possession of real property brought under RPAPL article 7, the Civil Court lacks jurisdiction over a cause of action seeking to recover treble damages pursuant to RPAPL 853 for wrongful eviction (see RPAPL 741[5];  Rostant v. Swersky, 79 AD3d 456, 457).   Consequently, contrary to the respondents' contentions, the judgment issued in a prior Civil Court summary holdover proceeding regarding the apartment unit at issue in the instant action, which was brought by a defendant herein, Spring Creek Gardens (hereinafter Spring Creek) against, among others, a plaintiff herein, Beatrice Ohanbamu, in favor of Spring Creek, did not preclude the plaintiffs from commencing the instant action, inter alia, to recover damages for wrongful eviction (see Rostant v. Swersky, 79 AD3d at 457).

The defendants Spring Creek and Betty Perry (hereinafter together the defendants) established their prima facie entitlement to judgment as a matter of law dismissing the cause of action to recover damages for wrongful eviction (see Administrative Code of City of N.Y. § 26–521[a];  RPAPL 711, 713 [3];  cf.  Mitchell v. City of New York, 154 Misc.2d 222, 223).   In opposition, the plaintiffs failed to raise a triable issue of fact (see Zuckerman v. City of New York, 49 N.Y.2d 557, 562).

The Supreme Court also properly granted those branches of the defendants' motion which were for summary judgment dismissing the remaining causes of action insofar as asserted against them.   In opposition to the defendants' prima facie showing, the plaintiffs failed to raise a triable issue of fact (see Zuckerman v. City of New York, 49 N.Y.2d at 562).

The plaintiffs' remaining contentions are without merit.

Accordingly, the Supreme Court properly granted the defendants' motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint insofar as asserted against them.

MASTRO, J.P., BELEN, SGROI and MILLER, JJ., concur.

ENTER:

Matthew G. Kiernan

Clerk of the Court