Landlord Settles With Tenant During Trial For $650,000.00

by Long Island Attorney Paul A. Lauto, Esq.

A Bronx, NY tenant sued his Landlord alleging that he was assaulted and robbed in his apartment as a result of negligent security.  Plaintiff claimed that his assailants gained late night access to the apartment complex courtyard, lobby and ultimately the residential area of the building as a result of unlocked doors.  Plaintiff further purported that the defendants violated the building code in this high crime neighborhood, that requires self closing, self locking doors with an intercom system.

Defendants argued that plaintiff was to blame as he was tricked into opening his apartment door, without actual knowledge as to who was on the other side.  Further, that the assailants targeted plaintiff and would have made their way to him regardless of any locked doors or intercom.

Plaintiff stated that he was "hog tied" by his four male assailants in his apartment and tortured with a hot iron at gun and knife point for approximately one hour, before being robbed of his money.  Plaintiff allegedly sustained multiple third degree burns, permanent scaring about his body and post traumatic stress disorder.

After one week into the trial, the defendants' insurer agreed to settle the case paying plaintiff $650,000.00.