21948, LLC v. Riaz
The petitioner in this commercial nonpayment proceeding sought to dispense with a nonmilitary affidavit and obtain a final judgment of possession and a warrant of eviction against the respondent tenant. The court, presided over by Justice Paul G. Feinman, denied the motion without prejudice. The denial was based on the petitioner's insufficient efforts to verify the respondent's nonmilitary status, failing to meet the requirements of the United States Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Civil Relief Act and the New York State Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Civil Relief Act of 1951. The court instructed the petitioner to provide a supplemental affidavit detailing further investigative steps, including additional visits to the premises, review of lease documents for contact information, and direct inquiries with the military.