transcript of 12/3/14 court hearing with queens supervising housing judge john lansden

8/18/2019 Transcript of 12/3/14 court hearing with Queens Supervising Housing Judge John Lansden

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THE CI VI L COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORKCI TY OF NEW YORK, COUNTY OF QUEENSCOURT PART: Room 201- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - X

: TURNBURY VI LLAGE LLC, :

Pl ai nt i f f , : I ndex #LT: 75649/ 14

- agai nst - ::

TOWAKI KOMATSU, :Def endant . :

:- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - X

Addr ess: New Yor k Ci vi l Cour t

89- 17 Sut phi n Bl vd. J amai ca, NY 11435

Hear i ng Dat e: December 3, 2014

Bef or e:

J OHN S. LANDSEN,

J udge.

Appear ance:

TURNBURY VI LLAGE LLC, Pl ai nt i f fSHARON E. COOK, At t or ney f or Pl ai nt i f f

TOWAKI KOMATSU, Def endant

Deni se Hi dal goA+ Of f i ce On Cal l , I nc.

Tr anscr i pt i oni st



INDEX TO WITNESSES

Direct Rebuttal

For the Petitioner:

For the Respondent:

Mr. Papamichael 42

Mr. Komatsu 67

INDEX TO EXHIBITS

Identi-

fication

Evidence

For the Petitioner:

1.

2.

3.

For the Respondent:

A. Vi deo Recor di ng 10/ 12/ 14 97

B. Vi deo Recor di ng 10/ 19/ 14 99

C. Audi o Recor di ng 9/ 27/ 14 101

D.



TURNBURY V. KOMATSU - LT 75649/ 14 1

( December 3, 2014 – 10: 19: 13 AM)1

( COURT OFFI CER) : Step up on Tur nbury vs.2

Komat su. [ PAUSE] 75649 of 2014, appear ances.3

MS. COOK: For t he Pet i t i oner , Shar on E. Cook,4

214- 11 Nor t hern Boul evard, Baysi de, New Yor k. Good5

morni ng, Your Honor .6

MR. KOMATSU: Towaki Komat su, I ’ m t he7

Respondent . 35- 30 81st St r eet , Apar t ment 6K, J ackson8

Hei ght s, New Yor k, 11372.9

THE COURT: Mr . Komat su, have you handed i n any10

opposi t i on t o t he mot i ons?11

MR. KOMATSU: I di d, t hi s morni ng.12

THE COURT: Do you have a copy f or me?13

MR. KOMATSU: Sure.14

[ NO SPEAKI NG TO 10: 21: 16]15

[ CONTI NUED PAUSE TO 10: 22: 56]16

THE COURT: I wi l l t r eat Mr . Komat su’ s17

opposi t i on as a cr oss- mot i on. Ms. Cook, do you wi sh t i me18

t o r epl y?19

MS. COOK: Wel l , Your Honor , I woul d obj ect t o20

t hat . Obvi ousl y i t was nei t her f i l ed t i mel y, nor ser ved21

on me t i mel y si nce he j ust handed i t t o me about 1022

mi nut es ago. The cr oss- mot i on. . .23

THE COURT: That ’ s why I wi l l gi ve you. . . t hat ’24

why I wi l l gi ve you an oppor t uni t y t o r espond.25




MS. COOK: Your Honor , we have many, many1

wi t nesses l i ned up f or t oday on t r i al . . .2

THE COURT: Si nce you have a mot i on, t here’ s no3

r eason t o bel i eve t hat I woul d pr oceed t o t r i al .4

MS. COOK: Um. . . Your - - I - -5

THE COURT: I mi ght . . . r eser ve deci si on. So6

havi ng one or t wo I coul d under st and. Why you woul d have7

many, maybe a bi t over ki l l .8

MS. COOK: Because we want ed t o be prepar ed,9

Your Honor .10

THE COURT: Wel l , t here ar e peopl e on cal l .11

MS. COOK: They’ r e on cal l , t hey’ r e. . .12

they’ re. . .13

THE COURT: That ’ s al l . Okay. So do you wi sh14

t o have t i me t o respond t o Mr . Komat su’ s mot i on?15

MS. COOK: I don’ t t hi nk i t ’ s necessary, Your16

Honor .17

THE COURT: That ’ s al l .18

MS. COOK: I ’ m pr epar ed t o or al i t . . . or al l y19

ar gue i t .20

THE COURT: Okay. Your mot i on.21

MS. COOK: Your Honor , t hi s i s our mot i on f or a22

Pr ot ect i ve Or der pur suant t o t he CPLR. I bel i eve t he23

Cour t has act ual l y been t he si gni ng at t orney on most of24

t hese subpoenas, and so you are f ami l i ar wi t h t he25




document s, um, whi ch Mr . Komat su i s r equest i ng. For t he1

most par t , t hese document s have not hi ng t o do wi t h ei t her2

t he cl ai m i n t hi s case, whi ch i s f or unpai d r ent , or Mr .3

Komatsu’ s def ense t o t hat cl ai m, whi ch i s t he br each of4

t he war r ant y of habi t abi l i t y. The pur pose of al l owi ng t h5

Respondent t o subpoena document s, i s t o be abl e t o pr ove6

hi s def ense, or di spr ove t he l andl or d’ s case, not t o al l ow7

hi m t o br i ng i n, f or exampl e, mul t i pl e wi t nesses f r om t he8

bui l di ng wi t h whom he appar ent l y has per sonal i ssues t hat9

do not r el at e t o hi s def ense of t he war r ant y of10

habi t abi l i t y. Ever yt hi ng ot her t han par agr aph 1 i n hi s11

subpoena t o Mr . Papami chael [ ??] i s i r r el evant t o bot h t h12

cl ai m and Mr . Komat su’ s def ense, and f or t hat r eason I ’ m13

aski ng that t he Cour t deny Mr . Komatsu t he r i ght t o have14

t hat mat er i al pr esent ed. I ’ ve al so asked t hat t he Cour t15

l i mi t t he subpoenas t o Mr . Papami chael ’ s st af f t o one or16

t he ot her of t he t wo st af f members. Mr . Komat su has17

al r eady i nt r oduced, as an at t achment t o hi s answer , t he18

mul t i pl e pages of e- mai l s bet ween hi msel f and my cl i ent ’ s19

of f i ce. The Cour t can see f r om t hese e- mai l s that most of20

t hem have been addr essed to, or cc’ d t o, bot h Chr i st i ne21

Tr i st ai no and Mel ody Tor r es. Thus, i t ’ s cl ear t hat22

what ever evi dence t hey coul d gi ve, wi l l si mpl y be23

dupl i cat i ve about what t he e- mai l s back and f or t h sai d.24

Mr . Papami chael does not have a l ar ge st af f . I t woul d be25




ext r emel y di sr upt i ve and f i nanci al l y pr ej udi ci al t o hi m t1

have t wo peopl e out of t he of f i ce f or what appear s t hat i t2

coul d be a ver y ext ended per i od of t i me. We don’ t have3

any pr ef erence as t o whi ch of t he two st af f members Mr .4

Komat su chooses t o quest i on, but we woul d ask t hat i t be5

l i mi t ed t o one or t he ot her . [ 10: 26: 16] Al t er nat i vel y, i f6

t he Cour t does not gr ant t hat r el i ef , I woul d at l east as7

t hat t hey be schedul ed enough t i me apar t t hat one coul d b8

i n t he of f i ce whi l e t he ot her one’ s i n cour t . They can b9

back and f or t h i n appr oxi mat el y 45 mi nut es, f r om t he10

of f i ce t o her e. But based on t he f act t hat most of t he11

evi dence r equest ed i n t he subpoena t o Mr . Papami chael i s12

i r r el evant t o t hi s pr oceedi ng I woul d ask that t he Cour t13

i ssue an Or der st r i ki ng pr ovi si ons 2 t hr ough 6.14

[ PAUSE]15

THE COURT: Mr . Komat su, I want t o hear f r om16

you.17

MR. KOMATSU: Sur e. Um. . . one of t he pr i mary18

pur poses of havi ng t he subpoenas i ssued, i s t he f act t hat19

dur i ng our l ast cour t hear i ng I coul dn’ t . . . I was not abl20

t o have Mr . Papami chael pr ovi de t hi s Cour t wi t h accur ate21

and t r ut hf ul r esponses t o quest i ons I asked hi m. For22

exampl e, wel l , l et me go t o t he i ssue of t he subpoenas,23

act ual l y. The pur pose of t he subpoenas i s t o t r y t o get24

wi t nesses i n t hi s cour t r oom t hat wi l l actual l y t el l t he25




t rut h, i nstead of . . .1

THE COURT: No. See here. . . here’ s ki nd of t he2

f ol l ow- up Mr . Komat su. I n t er ms of t he s- . . . and r i ght3

now I ’ m deal i ng st r i ct l y wi t h t he subpoena f or Mr .4

Papami chael , okay? The one mot i on i s. . . t he mot i on i s t o5

have t hose i t ems, 2 t hr ough 6 st r i cken, i n order t hat t hey6

don’ t have t o compl y wi t h your r equest .7

MR. KOMATSU: Okay.8

THE COURT: As t o 1, I t hi nk everybody agrees9

t hat ’ s a rel evant . . .10

MR. KOMATSU: What does t hat per t ai n t o?11

THE COURT: Number 1.12

MR. KOMATSU: I don’ t have t he subpoena i n f r ont13

of me.14

THE COURT: Wor k or ders and l ogs.15

MR. KOMATSU: I f t hei r cl ai m i s t o, t hat . . .16

THE COURT: No, t hei r . . . no, everybody agrees17

t hat ’ s a r el evant - -18

MR. KOMATSU: Okay.19

THE COURT: - - t hi ng t o ask f or . Copi es of al l20

wr i t t en and comm. - . . . #2 says, copi es of al l wr i t t en and21

el ect r oni c communi cat i ons about Respondent and Pet i t i oner22

i t s r epr esent at i ves, hi s at t or neys have had wi t h t enant s23

of t he apart ment bui l di ng i n whi ch Respondent ’ s apart ment24

i s l ocat ed. So i n essence, you want t o know about t he25




ot her t enant s who are compl ai ni ng about you, and what i f1

any response the l andl or d has t o those compl ai nt s, or i f2

t he l andl or d i s di r ect i ng t he ot her t enant s of t he3

bui l di ng t o engage i n a par t i cul ar conduct . I don’ t have4

a pr obl em wi t h i t , i f t hat ’ s what you’ r e aski ng f or .5

MR. KOMATSU: Yeah.6

THE COURT: I t hi nk i t ’ s f i ne. I n t er ms of7

communi cat i ons wi t h t he Di st r i ct At t or ney’ s of f i ce, yeah,8

no, you’ r e not get t i ng t hat .9

MR. KOMATSU: Dur i ng hi s. . .10

THE COURT: I don’ t . . . i t doesn’ t mat t er .11

MR. KOMATSU: Okay. No probl em, no probl em.12

THE COURT: Communi cat i ons wi t h t he Di st r i ct13

At t or ney’ s of f i ce, I ’ m not gr ant i ng you. Copi es of al l14

wr i t t en and el ect r oni c communi cat i ons t hat concer n15

Respondent , t hat Pet i t i oner , i t s r epr esent at i ves or16

at t orneys have had wi t h t he r eal est at e agent or r eal17

est ate f i r m t hat i nt r oduced Respondent t o Respondent ’ s18

cur r ent apar t ment , par t i cul ar l y over - br oad. For al l I19

know t hey’ ve been usi ng t hat r eal est at e agent f or year s.20

For al l I know t hey’ ve had t housands of communi cat i ons21

t hat do not per t ai n t o you i n any way, shape or f orm.22

Your r equest f or al l of t hem i s over - broad.23

MR. KOMATSU: Can I l i mi t t hat ?24

THE COURT: Copi es of al l wr i t t en and el ect r oni25




communi cat i ons Pet i t i oner ’ s had bet ween i t s1

r epr esent at i ves about Respondent . I don’ t have a pr obl em2

wi t h t hat ei t her , because i t may show not i ce, i f t hey hav3

a Respondent . . .4

MR. KOMATSU: I t shoul d.5

THE COURT: I f t here’ s a communi cat i on t hat6

says, “Geor ge, you’ r e the. . . you pai nt t he apar t ment s, go7

pai nt t hi s apar t ment , ” t hat ’ s a rel evant t hi ng t o have, s8

I don’ t have a pr obl em wi t h number 5. Copi es of al l of9

t he wr i t t en and el ect r oni c r ecor ds t hat det ai l t he nat ur e10

of t he measur es, i f any, t hat Pet i t i oner i mpl ement ed t o11

i mpr ove secur i t y f or t he t enant s of t he apar t ment bui l di n12

bet ween 2011 and 2014 - - a l i t t l e br oad, consi der i ng. . .13

when di d you move i nt o t he bui l di ng?14

MR. KOMATSU: I n August .15

THE COURT: Of what year?16

MR. KOMATSU: Thi s year .17

THE COURT: So, may I ask, wer e you t he subj ect18

of a bur gl ar y?19

MR. KOMATSU: I n J anuary of t hi s year , at my20

f ormer apart ment , yes.21

THE COURT: Then i t has not hi ng t o do wi t h t hi s22

bui l di ng.23

MR. KOMATSU: And. . . I ’ ve had. . .24

THE COURT: Mr . Komat su. . .25




MR. KOMATSU: Okay.1

THE COURT: I f you haven’ t been bur gl ar i zed i n2

t hi s apar t ment t hen what you’ r e aski ng f or i s not r el evant3

t o t he case. I f you had been bur gl ar i zed i n t hi s4

apar t ment , t hen I cer t ai nl y woul d l i ke t o see what t hey’ v5

done bet ween the t i me you gai ned possessi on, and the t i me6

t hat you wer e bur gl ar i zed. But t hr ee year s’ wor t h of . . .7

t hr ee year s’ wor t h of communi cat i ons. . . r ecor ds- -8

MR. KOMATSU: Can I ask you a quest i on?9

THE COURT: Excuse me.10

MR. KOMATSU: Sor r y.11

THE COURT: - - when you have not been bur gl ar i ze12

i n t hi s apar t ment , ar e not r el evant t o t he case. I al so13

not e, Mr . Komat su, t hat . . . I l ooked at i t ear l i er when we14

wer e [ 10: 31: 16] consi der i ng si gni ng the subpoenas. . . at15

l east I t hought I di d. [ PAUSE] Her e agai n, I under st and16

t hat you’ r e not an at t orney, and whi l e you are exper i ence17

i n Housi ng Cour t pr oceedi ngs, you’ r e not . . . [ PAUSE]18

MR. KOMATSU: I never t ook t he bar .19

THE COURT: Exact l y. I was goi ng t o say, you’ r20

not exper i enced i n t er ms of t hi nki ng t he way an at t orney21

t hi nks, and appr oachi ng t hi ngs. But I ’ ve l ooked t hr ough22

your answer , and t her e’ s not hi ng i n your answer t hat woul23

l ead me t o bel i eve t hat a r obber y. . . secur i t y. . . had24

become an i ssue wi t h your apar t ment .25




MR. KOMATSU: I f someone’ s post i ng har assi ng1

not i ces i n t he l obby of my bui l di ng. . .2

THE COURT: No, t hat ’ s not . . . t hat ’ s not a3

secur i t y i ssue. I f somebody has. . . i s exer ci si ng t hei r4

Fi r st Amendment r i ght t o make a st at ement , j ust as you5

of t en exerci se your Fi r st Amendment r i ght t o make6

st at ement s i n bot h ver bal and wr i t t en. . .7

MR. KOMATSU: But t her e ar e l i mi t s. . .8



THE COURT: I f t hey ar e doi ng t hat , t hat i s11

t hei r ri ght . That ’ s not a secur i t y i ssue. That ’ s not an12

i ssue as t o bur gl ar i es, and whet her or not t her e’ s a l ock13

on t he door t o t he bui l di ng. The per son has t he key, t hey14

have t he key. That you don’ t l i ke t he f act t hat a t enant15

has deci ded t hat you’ r e the per son who’ s r esponsi bl e f or16

what ever i t i s, and I r eal l y, you know, t he. . . t he. . . t he17

note on t he. . . t hat you annexed t o one of t he subpoenas,18

I ’ m not sur e what t he di sput e i s, al l r i ght ? But t hat19

somebody t ook i ssue wi t h you i n t hat di sput e, not par t of20

t hi s case.21

MR. KOMATSU: I t ’ s associ ated wi t h t he warr ant y22

of habi t abi l i t y, i f someone’ s causi ng a nui sance.23

THE COURT: That ’ s not a nui sance. Ther e24

i sn’ t . . . t her e i s a l ot of case l aw wher e l andl or ds have25




br ought cases t o evi ct t enant s f or put t i ng up post . . .1

post i ngs wi t h even wor se st at ement s. . .2

MR. KOMATSU: What ? Cal l i ng me a j ackass?3

THE COURT: Yeah! Far . . . bel i eve me, t enant s4

cal l l andl or ds a l ot wor se t han a j ackass, and i t happens5

ever y day, and i t happens i n wr i t i ng, i t happens onl i ne,6

i t happens. . .7

[ OFF- MI C]8

( COURT OFFI CER) : Qui et pl ease.9

THE COURT: I t happens. . . i t happens wherever10

you want , and t hey’ r e. . .11

MR. KOMATSU: Because. . .12



THE COURT: And I can’ t t hi nk of a si ngl e case15

wher e a l andl ord was al l owed t o evi ct on t he t heory of16

nui sance wi t h j ust t hat behavi or . So, whi l e you may f eel17

i t ’ s a nui sance, t he l aw does not agr ee wi t h you on t hat18

one.19

MR. KOMATSU: However , I went t o t he. . . 11520

Pol i ce Pr eci nct yest er day.21

THE COURT: Gr eat !22

MR. KOMATSU: Fi l ed a compl ai nt . . . uh, a pol i ce23

r epor t , and t he per son t aki ng t he r epor t t ol d me t hat i t24

was a vi ol at i on of 24. . . 240. 26 of t he penal . . .25




THE COURT: Gr eat . Let me know how t he cr i mi na1

cour se. . . cr i mi nal case ha- . . . goes. But i t ’ s not goi ng2

t o be par t of t hi s case. So. . . l et me ask you. . . movi ng3

t o t he next subpoena, why i s i t t hat you f eel you need4

bot h i ndi vi dual s f r om t he of f i ce?5

MR. KOMATSU: Sur e. Um. . . wi t h t he. . .6

THE COURT: I . . . I don’ t have t hat subpoena i n7

f r ont of me. I know i t ’ s i n t he f i l e somewher e- -8

MS. COOK: Your Honor ?9

THE COURT: - - I don’ t r emember t he names of t he10

i ndi vi dual s , but . . .11

MR. KOMATSU: Okay. Um. . .12

THE COURT: I r emembered, when I saw t hem, t hat13

i t seemed ki nd of a redundancy, but I . . . maybe t hey have14

di f f erent rol es i n t he of f i ce.15

MR. KOMATSU: Wel l . . .16

MS. COOK: Your Honor , bef or e we move on t o t hat17

subpoena, may I j ust be hear d on one i ssue t hat t he Cour t18

r ai sed on t he f i r st subpoena?19

THE COURT: Okay. Whi ch number?20

MS. COOK: Wi t h r espect t o par agr aph 2.21

THE COURT: Okay.22

MS. COOK: Copi es of communi cat i ons about23

Respondent t he Pet i t i oner may have had wi t h ot her t enant s24

of t he bui l di ng.25




THE COURT: Yes.1

MS. COOK: To t he ext ent t hat ot her t enant s of2

t he bui l di ng may be wi l l i ng t o come i n and t est i f y I have3

no pr obl em i f t he Cour t w- . . .4

THE COURT: Wel l , t hi s i sn’ t a nui sance case,5

Ms. Cook.6

MS. COOK: No, no, but t her e may have been. . .7

THE COURT: I f t here’ s a. . . i f t here’ s a8

communi cat i on f r om Pet i t i oner t o a t enant t hat says, “Go9

ahead, do what ever you want . . . go ahead, do what ever you10

want as i t r el at es t o Mr . Komat su, I don’ t car e, ” i t may11

r el at e t o Mr . Komatsu’ s answer i n whi ch he al l eges a12

cer t ai n cour se of conduct , so I ’ m not goi ng t o el i mi nat e13

t hat .14

MS. COOK: And I have no pr obl em wi t h t hat .15

THE COURT: I t ’ s not . . . i t ’ s not a nui sance16

case, so ot her [ 10: 36: 16] t enant ’ s t est i mony i s l ar gel y17

i r r el evant .18

MS. COOK: My. . . my quest - . . .19

THE COURT: To your . . . t o your pr i ma f aci e case20

MS. COOK: Ri ght . My quest i on was, i f another21

t enant i n the bui l di ng has communi cated wi t h Mr .22

Papami chael and doesn’ t . . . you know, and wi shes not t o23

have hi s or her i dent i t y known t o Mr . Komat su. . .24

THE COURT: You can r edact t he i dent i t y, but25




the--1

MS. COOK: Okay, ver y good. That ’ s al l .2

THE COURT: - - But t he. . . but t he cont ent of t he3

l et t er . . .4

MS. COOK: That ’ s f i ne.5

THE COURT: . . . needs t o be avai l abl e t o Mr .6

Komat su.7

MS. COOK: Okay. As l ong as we can wr i t e,8

r edact t he i dent i t y. . .9

THE COURT: And t hat ’ s onl y. . . t hat ’ s onl y. . .10

r i ght .11

MS. COOK: I f t hey’ r e not - -12

THE COURT: They can r edact . . . t hey can r edact13

t he i dent i t y of t he sender , but not t he cont ent .14

MS. COOK: That ’ s f i ne. Thank you.15

THE COURT: As t o t he ot her t wo i ndi vi dual s, Mr16

Komat su. . . j ust r ef r esh my r ecol l ect i on, what ar e t hei r17

names agai n?18

MR. KOMATSU: Um. . . I t hi nk Mel ody Tor r es- -19

THE COURT: Tor r es, and- -20

MR. KOMATSU: - - and Chr i st i ne Tr i st ai no.21

THE COURT: Who?22

MS. COOK: Tr i st ai no. . . Chr i st i ne Tr i st ai no.23

T- R- I - S- T- A- I - N- O.24

THE COURT: Okay, so why i s i t you wi sh t o25




subpoena Ms. Tor r es?1

MR. KOMATSU: She sai d t o me i n. . . i n cl ai mi ng2

t hat someone at her of f i ce, I t hi nk she descr i bed t hat3

per son as a super vi sor , um, had t ol d her t hat , I t hi nk4

r epai r s t o t he f l oor boar ds i n my apar t ment , not hi ng coul d5

be done about t hat , and t hat was back i n August .6

THE COURT: Okay.7

MR. KOMATSU: So, she di dn’ t i dent i f y who t hat8

super vi sor was. . .9

THE COURT: So why ar en’ t you aski ng f or t he10

i dent i t y of t he super vi sor ?11

MR. KOMATSU: Um. . .12

THE COURT: You see, here’ s ki nd of t he t hi ng.13

I t appear s f r om what you’ r e sayi ng t hat Ms. Tor r es has no14

per sonal knowl edge of anyt hi ng ot her t han what somebody15

t ol d her .16

MR. KOMATSU: Ri ght .17

THE COURT: So, i f she wer e t o get on t he st and18

and wer e t o say, “I have no i dea whet her i t ’ s t r ue or not19

t hi s i s what I was t ol d, so t hat ’ s t he l et t er t hat I20

sent , ” how much wei ght do you thi nk i t has?21

MR. KOMATSU: Wel l I . . . I ’ m j ust l ooki ng t o22

basi cal l y f i nd out who t ol d her t hat i nf or mat i on.23

THE COURT: Okay, so why di dn’ t you sub- . . .24

you’ ve al r eady subpoenaed al l t he wor k or der s, al l t he25




l ogs, t hei r dat es, t hei r t i mes, det ai l ed nat ur e of1

r epai r s, anyt hi ng f r om t he r ep- . . . t he i dent i t y of t he2

r epr esent at i ves or cont r act or s t hat wer e r et ai ned t o3

per f or m wor k. . .4

MR. KOMATSU: I mean, f or me, I have no probl em5

havi ng. . .6

THE COURT: Okay.7

MR. KOMATSU: . . . t he subpoenas l i mi t ed. As8

l ong as I can have t hat i nf or mat i on, you know, i dent i f i ed9

THE COURT: I ’ m not so cer t ai n Ms. Tor r es i s t h10

per son t hat I woul d deal wi t h.11

MR. KOMATSU: Because essent i al l y. . .12

THE COURT: What about Ms. Tr i st ai no?13

MR. KOMATSU: Essent i al l y t hat st at ement was14

made i n an e- mai l , subsequent t o t hat HPD i ssued a15

vi ol at i on.16

THE COURT: Gr eat .17

MR. KOMATSU: About t hese f l oor boar ds, t hat . . .18

THE COURT: Then I don’ t . . . t hen i t ’ s l ar gel y19

i r r el evant what t hey have t o say. HPD i ssued a vi ol at i on20

and I can wor k wi t h t hat .21

MR. KOMATSU: Wel l , i t goes t o t he i ssue of22

credi bi l i t y. I f someone i n t hat or gani zat i on. . .23

THE COURT: No, i t goes t o i ssue of opi ni on. I f24

someone. . . i f someone i n t hat or gani zat i on di dn’ t t hi nk25




t here was anyt hi ng wr ong under t he l aw, wi t h the1

f l oorboar ds, and they wer en’ t goi ng to do anythi ng about2

i t , HPD di sagr ees wi t h t hem, wel l , I don’ t . . . I go wi t h3

HPD. So, i f t her e’ s a vi ol at i on, gr eat .4

MR. KOMATSU: Mm- hmm.5

THE COURT: I don’ t even need t o addr ess t he6

i ssue as. . . was t her e a pr obl em wi t h t he f l oor boar ds, or7

was t her e not a pr obl em wi t h t he f l oor boar ds? Under t he8

l aw, t her e i s a pr obl em wi t h t he f l oor boar ds and t hey hav9

t o cor r ect i t .10

MR. KOMATSU: I mean, I j ust saw t he i ssue as. .11

THE COURT: Lar gel y, Ms. Tor r es i s i r r el evant at12

t hi s poi nt .13

MR. KOMATSU: Okay. I mean- -14

THE COURT: What about Ms. Tr i st ai no?15

MR. KOMATSU: For me, I j ust t hought i t , as a16

i ssue of , you know, honest y. So i f t hey’ r e pr ovi di ng me17

wi t h f al se i nf or mat i on, sayi ng, you know, we can’ t do18

anyt hi ng about t he f l oor boar ds- -19

THE COURT: Okay. Mr . Komat su, l et me ask a20

quest i on. What col or i s my sui t ?21

MR. KOMATSU: Navy Bl ue?22

THE COURT: Okay. And I say i t ’ s grey. I s one23

of us a l i ar ?24

MR. KOMATSU: Um, no.25




THE COURT: Exact l y. Di f f er ence of opi ni on.1

MR. KOMATSU: I t ’ s appl es and oranges, t hough.2

THE COURT: But i t ’ s a. . . but i t ’ s a di f f er ence3

of opi ni on. I have a vi ol at i on. I t t el l s me t hat t hei r4

opi ni on was wr ong. That ’ s what I need t o go wi t h. What5

do you need Ms. Tr i st ai no f or ?6


THE COURT: And I ’ m assumi ng t here i s a8

vi ol at i on, t her e’ s no di sput e about t hat . . .9

MS. COOK: That ’ s corr ect , Your Honor .10

THE COURT: I don’ t r ecal l . . .11

MR. KOMATSU: [ OVERLAP] Oh, oh, wi t hdr - -12

THE COURT: I , I , bel - , Mr . Komat su’ s13

[ I NAUDI BLE] he woul dn’ t t el l me t her e’ s a vi ol at i on i f14

t her e wasn’ t a vi ol at i on, so I ’ m goi ng wi t h t hat . Why do15

you need Ms. . . who i s i t , Tr i st ai no? Tr i st ai no?16

MR. KOMATSU: Wel l , based on what we’ ve al r eady17

di scussed, I ’ l l wi t hdr aw t hat .18

THE COURT: Okay. Wi t h t hose t hr ee subpoenas I19

have r esponses f r om HPD t o t hose subpoenas here. Were20

t her e any ot her subpoenas?21


THE COURT: I know t here wer e a coupl e t o t he23

Pet i t i oner . I know t her e wer e a coupl e f or HPD. Wer e24

t her e any ot her subpoenas?25




MR. KOMATSU: Ther e was another , however I was1

unabl e t o have i t ser ved i n t i me f or t oday’ s hear i ng.2

THE COURT: So t hat ’ s not one I have i n f r ont of3

me. So I onl y have t he subpoenas f or Tor r es and Tr i st ai n4

whi ch ar e bei ng wi t hdr awn?5


THE COURT: I have t he. . . uh. . . subpoena f or7

Papami chael .8


THE COURT: Whi ch I modi f i ed.10

MR. KOMATSU: Then t her e was al so [ 10: 41: 16] t h11

subpoena t hat was i ssued t o t he Real Est ate agent , um. . .12

THE COURT: Was t hat ser ved?13

MR. KOMATSU: I bel i eve so. I dr opped by. . . I14

sent i t t o t he sher i f f ’ s of f i ce f or . . . i n Long I s l and15

Ci t y, but I di dn’ t get t he updat ed ser vi ce back, and I16

sent i t over a week ago.17

THE COURT: I f you can show me t he af f i davi t of18

ser vi ce t hen I can deal wi t h i t .19

MR. KOMATSU: Ri ght . Wel l , I haven’ t got t en i t20

back f r om t hem yet .21

THE COURT: Okay, so t hen I won’ t deal wi t h i t22

t oday. I f t he t r i al cont i nues l onger t han t oday t hen I23

may end up deal i ng wi t h i t . Al l r i ght . As t o your cross-24

mot i on, Mr . Komat su, go ahead.25




MR. KOMATSU: Um. . . you’ r e r ef er r i ng t o t he1

mot i on t hat I . . . gave t he Cour t t oday?2

THE COURT: Mm- hmm. Wel l , si nce t here’ s al r eady3

a mot i on on t he cal endar , your mot i on i s act ual l y4

ent i t l ed, shoul d be ent i t l ed a cross- mot i on.5

MR. KOMATSU: Okay.6

THE COURT: But t hat ’ s okay.7

MR. KOMATSU: Um, wel l , yeah, t he l ast . . .8

essent i al l y t he l ast t i me we wer e her e, um, Ms. Cook9

submi t t ed some document s t o t hi s Cour t . She t ur ned i n a10

document associ at ed wi t h HPD, anot her one associ at ed wi t h11

DHCR.12

THE COURT: Mm- hmm.13

MR. KOMATSU: I f you l ook cl osel y at t he14

document s associ at ed wi t h HPD, and you l ook at t he dat e15

t hat Mr . Papami chael si gned t hat document . . . [ PAUSE]16

THE COURT: Ri ght .17

MR. KOMATSU: One of t he quest i ons I asked hi m18

dur i ng t he hear i ng l ast t i me, um, was. . . went t o the i ssu19

of why HPD’ s websi t e showed t hat t he apar t ment bui l di ng I20

l i ve i n was not pr oper l y r egi st er ed dur i ng t he mont h of21

Sept ember . I f I ’ m not mi st aken I bel i eve hi s r esponse22

was, because HPD had made a mi st ake.23

THE COURT: J ust so I ’ m cl ear on t hi s, Mr .24

Komat su. The subpoenas you ser ved on HPD, have you had a25




chance t o l ook at t hei r r esponses?1

MR. KOMATSU: I haven’ t r ecei ved a r esponse2

back.3

THE COURT: Okay.4

MR. KOMATSU: They asked me t o send a check t o5

t hem.6

THE COURT: Because. . . because t he r esponse t ha7

t hey sent t o one of your . . . t o one of your subpoenas ar e8

t he t wo mul t i pl e dwel l i ng r egi st r at i ons.9


THE COURT: So t here’ s one mul t i pl e dwel l i ng11

r egi st r at i on, whi ch i ndi cat es t hat bet ween August of 201312

and August of 2014 t her e was a val i d r egi st r at i on i n13

ef f ect .14


THE COURT: The second r egi st r at i on t hat t hey16

sent t o you i ndi cates t hat as of Sept ember 16t h. . . or17

t her eabout s, because I don’ t know when t hey put i t i n18

t hei r comput er syst em. . . but t he date on t he document i s19

Sept ember 16t h, 2014. And, i t goes t hr ough August of 201520


THE COURT: Okay? So your ar gument i s what ,22

t hat f or t he t wo weeks t hat t hey wer e not r egi st er ed, or23

f or t he t wo weeks t hat arguabl y t hey wer e not i n24

compl i ance wi t h HPD, what ?25




MR. KOMATSU: Wel l , pr i or t o t oday’ s hear i ng,1

and pr i or t o I bel i eve t he November 7t h hear i ng, I actual l2

exchanged some e- mai l s wi t h Mar i o Ferr i gno, who i s t he3

assi st ant commi ssi oner .4

THE COURT: Excuse me. I am aski ng you what5

your posi t i on i s.6

MR. KOMATSU: Okay. Um. Posi t i on i s t hat7

Pet i t i oner , speci f i cal l y Mr . Papami chael , l i ed about8

havi ng t aken appr opr i at e act i on t o ensur e t hat t he9

bui l di ng I l i ve i n was pr oper l y r egi st er ed wi t h HPD dur i n10

t he ent i r e mont h of Sept ember .11

THE COURT: Okay, and. . . ?12

MR. KOMATSU: And wi t h r egards t o t he mul t i pl e13

dwel l i ng l aw f or 325 i t essent i al l y st at es t hat t he14

l andl or d can’ t engage i n a nonpayment pr oceedi ng i f i t15

f ai l s t o compl y wi t h t hat r egi st r at i on r epor t .16

THE COURT: And how woul d. . . and you’ r e sayi ng17

t hat t hat woul d mean what ? As t o t hi s case.18

MR. KOMATSU: Um, wel l , under t he. . .19

THE COURT: Seei ng as how t hi s case was st ar t ed20

i n Oct ober . . .21


THE COURT: And he was cer t ai nl y r egi st er ed by23

Oct ober , because t he r egi st r at i on i t sel f i s dat ed24

Sept ember 16t h. . .25




MR. KOMATSU: Wel l , wi t h r egards t o t he i ssue o1

per j ur y. I f he’ s answer i ng quest i ons whi l e he’ s supposed2

t o be under oat h i n the cour t r oom, and hi s answer s t ur n3

out t o be f al se, t hen. . .4

THE COURT: Wel l , but he was r egi st er ed i n5

Sept ember , was he not ? I f t he dat e on t he r egi st r at i on i6

Sept ember 16t h?7

MR. KOMATSU: I t hought t he ef f ect i ve date of8

t hat r egi st r at i on was act ual l y Sept ember 29t h, not t he 16t9

THE COURT: No, i t l ooks l i ke i t ’ s August . . . i t10

goes back t o August , I t hi nk. [ PAUSE] And even i f i t i s11

Sept ember 29t h, Sept ember 29t h i s i n Sept ember , i s i t not ?12

No, i t goes back t o August .13

MR. KOMATSU: Of 2014?14

THE COURT: Mm- hmm. Regi st r at i on due dat e was15

back i n August [ 10: 46: 16] , as of Sept ember . . . as of16

Sept ember 16t h, accor di ng t o HPD, t hey have a r egi st r at i on17

I ’ m not sur e i f i t star t s on t he 29t h, but even i f i t does18

he woul d be r egi st er ed i n Sept ember i f i t st ar t s on t he19

29t h. I t ’ s not r egi st er ed f or most of Sept ember , I agr ee,20

but t her e i sn’ t any case l aw t hat says t hat f or ever21

pr ecl udes hi m f r om st ar t i ng a case.22


THE COURT: I t j ust has t o be r egi st er ed, when24

t he case i s st ar t ed.25




MR. KOMATSU: Okay, t hen. . . t hen t emporar i l y1

set t i ng t hat as i de. . .2

THE COURT: Okay.3

MR. KOMATSU: Um. . . t he l ast t i me we were i n4

t hi s cour t r oom, Ms. Cook submi t t ed a r ent r ol l t hat was5

i ssued by DHCR.6

THE COURT: Okay, go ahead.7

MR. KOMATSU: And, t he number of apar t ment s8

shown i n t hat r ent r ol l ar e l ess t han 70.9

THE COURT: Okay.10

MR. KOMATSU: I f you l ook at HPD’ s regi st r at i on11

f or t he bui l di ng, i t shows t hat t her e ar e 95 apar t ment s i12

t he bui l di ng.13

THE COURT: Okay.14

MR. KOMATSU: So, t he quest i on i s, essent i al l y,15

i f t her e ar e 95 apar t ment s i n t he bui l di ng, t hen why does16

t hat rent r ol l onl y. . .17

THE COURT: How does t hat appl y t o you?18

MR. KOMATSU: I t goes t o t he i ssue of pr oper l y19

r egi st er i ng t he bui l di ng.20

THE COURT: No. The quest i on i s whether , f or21

t hi s pr oceedi ng, your apar t ment i s pr oper l y r egi st er ed. 22

don’ t know i f t hey had hi gh r ent decont r ol . I don’ t know23

i f t hey had hi gh i ncome decont r ol . I don’ t know di d24

enough work i n t he apar t ment , t hey combi ned 3 or 4 uni t s25




and made new uni t s t hat ar en’ t subj ect t o r ent r egul at i on1

No, t hey don’ t have t o show me any of t hat , unl ess i t ’ s2

your apar t ment t hat ’ s i n quest i on.3

MR. KOMATSU: I have case l aw t hat basi cal l y4

says t he case was di smi ssed on t hat basi s.5

THE COURT: I di sagree wi t h you.6

MR. KOMATSU: Thi s i s t he case of , I don’ t know7

how you pr onounce t hi s.8

THE COURT: Vi dad.9

MR. KOMATSU: Vi dad Real t y vs. Kel t on [ ??] .10

THE COURT: Okay.11

MR. KOMATSU: And at t he end of t he case, um,12

yeah. . . i t bas i cal l y says . . .13

THE COURT: So, you’ r e of f er i ng t hat case f or14

t he pr oposi t i on t hat even t hough your apart ment i s at15

l east r egi st er ed nomi nal l y wi t h DHCR, your case. . . your16

apar t ment i s t he subj ect of t he pr oceedi ng - - i f t her e’ s17

anot her apar t ment t hat i s not r egi st er ed, al l t he bui l di n18

i s def ecti ve?19

MR. KOMATSU: I f . . . i f t hi s i s t he deci si on20

t hat . . .21

THE COURT: No, I ’ m aski ng you what t hat22

deci si on says.23

MR. KOMATSU: Thi s deci si on essent i al l y says24

t hat i f a l andl or d f ai l ed t o meet t he l egal obl i gat i ons25




wi t h regar ds t o t he ent i r e bui l di ng, t hen t he nonpayment1

case t hat t hey i ni t i at ed got di smi ssed.2

THE COURT: Al l r i ght , can I see t he deci si on?3

MS. COOK: Your Honor , whi l e I ’ m not per sonal l y4

f ami l i ar wi t h t he deci si on t hat he’ s t al ki ng about , as t h5

Cour t has poi nt ed out , t her e’ s a myr i ad of r easons why an6

apar t ment mi ght not be r egi st er ed.7

THE COURT: Wel l , I woul d l i ke t o see what8

Mi st er . . .9

MR. KOMATSU: Mor e t han 20 apar t ment s not10

r egi st er ed?11

THE COURT: Okay. Do you have any i dea how ol d12

t hi s case i s, Mr . Komat su?13

MR. KOMATSU: Um. . . I t hi nk i t ’ s on t he f i r st14

page. I don’ t . . .15

THE COURT: Yeah, 1989. Ar e you awar e of16

whet her or not t hi s case has gone up t o t he Appel l ate17

l evel ?18

MR. KOMATSU: Um. . . I di dn’ t have an oppor t uni t y19

t o f i nd t hat out .20

THE COURT: Al so, Mr . Komat su, t here’ s. . .21

[ PAUSE]22

MR. KOMATSU: Essent i al l y t he argument ’ s on. . .23

THE COURT: Okay, so here’ s t he probl em. . .24

MR. KOMATSU: Yep?25




THE COURT: The pet i t i oner had t wo i ssues. They1

had a pr obl em wi t h showi ng the HPD r egi st r at i on, whi ch2

t hey wer e ul t i mat el y abl e t o deal wi t h, but t hey wer e not3

abl e t o show any DHCR r egi st r at i on. They di dn’ t show any4

DHCR r egi st r at i on f or any. . . any apar t ment i n t he5

bui l di ng.6

MR. KOMATSU: Hmm.7

THE COURT: That ’ s not t he case t hat we have8

her e. The case t hat we have her e - - put t i ng asi de t hat9

t he case you’ r e r el yi ng on i s, you know, 25 year s ol d, an10

i s f r om a cour t t hat i s on t he same l evel as mysel f , and11

i n no way bi ndi ng - - i t ’ s as i f , i n t hi s case, t hey f ai l e12

t o show any r egi st r at i on. Wel l , i n t hi s case t hey di d13

show. . . i n my case, your case- -14

MR. KOMATSU: Hmm. . .15

THE COURT: - - t hey di d show a r egi st r at i on.16

Your ar gument i s t hat t here shoul d be mor e apar t ments17

r egi st er ed, and I don’ t know necessar i l y that t hat ’ s t he18

f act .19

MR. KOMATSU: I mean, f or me I ’ m wi l l i ng t o t ak20

i t t o t he Second Appel l at e Ter m and see how t hey f eel21

about i t .22

THE COURT: Excel l ent ! Add t hat t o your l i st ,23

i f you. . . i f t he deci si on t hat you get doesn’ t , uh. . . you24

don’ t agr ee wi t h, you can cer t ai nl y add t hat t o t he l i st25




of i ssues you wi sh t o r ai se. Anyt hi ng el se?1

MR. KOMATSU: Um, l et ’ s see. . .2

THE COURT: But you’ l l not e i n t hat deci si on3

t hat you’ r e rel yi ng on no DHCR r egi st r at i on i nf or mat i on4

was submi t t ed.5

MR. KOMATSU: No- -6

THE COURT: Not t hat . . . t hat ’ s what t hat says.7

No r egi st r at i on was submi t t ed. I n Vi dad. . .8

MR. KOMATSU: I ’ m r el yi ng. . .9

THE COURT: I t ’ s not . . . i t ’ s not t hat t hey10

of f er ed [ 10: 51: 16] some r egi st r at i on i nf or mat i on, but not11

r egi st r at i on i nf or mat i on f or al l of t he uni t s of t he12

bui l di ng. I n t hat case, i t says, t hey di dn’ t of f er any13

i nf or mat i on- -14


THE COURT: - - f or r egi st r at i on.16

MR. KOMATSU: But wi t h r espect t o my cr oss17

mot i on, I bel i eve what i s st at ed i n t he cr oss mot i on i s18

t hat t hey f ai l ed t o pr oper l y regi st er wi t h DHCR.19

THE COURT: But you di dn’ t show t hat t hey di d.20

MR. KOMATSU: I ’ m sor r y?21

THE COURT: You di dn’ t show t hat t hey di d. I22

have no i dea why t hese ot her uni t s ar e not r egi st er ed as23

r ent st abi l i zed any mor e. For al l I know t hey’ r e not r ent24

st abi l i zed any mor e.25




MR. KOMATSU: But I bel i eve on t he r ent r ol l . . .1

t he rent rol l report i t sel f , i t has di f f erent2

cl assi f i cat i on codes.3

THE COURT: I t coul d.4

MR. KOMATSU: That ar e supposed t o t est . . . t o5

speci f y. . .6

THE COURT: And. . . and I wi l l say t hi s ot her7

t hi ng t hough, Mr . Komat su, t hei r bur den of pr oof as i t ’ s8

showed, as i t r el at es t o your apar t ment , i s t o show t hat9

your apar t ment i s r egi st er ed.10


THE COURT: And t hat . . . t hat t hey ar e not12

seeki ng a rent beyond what i s r egi st er ed.13

[ PAUSE]14

MR. KOMATSU: Al so, i f you l ook on page 2 of15

t hi s. . .16

THE COURT: Of your cr oss?17

MR. KOMATSU: Yeah.18

THE COURT: Okay. Whi ch l et t er ?19

MR. KOMATSU: I t em D.20

THE COURT: D. I don’ t have a D. Um. . .21

MR. KOMATSU: On page 2.22

THE COURT: Page 2 of 4?23

MR. KOMATSU: On 2 of 3.24

THE COURT: Hol d on, I ’ m l ooki ng at t he wr ong. .25




okay, go ahead.1

MR. KOMATSU: There was a case known as. . . I2

don’ t know how you pr onounce t hi s. . .3

THE COURT: Hegemann?4

MR. KOMATSU: Hegemann Asset LLC vs. Smi t h.5

THE COURT: Do you have a copy of t hat ?6

MR. KOMATSU: That case?7

THE COURT: Yeah.8

MR. KOMATSU: Uh. . . not wi t h me.9

THE COURT: Okay.10

MR. KOMATSU: Can I speak. . . di scuss i t ?11

THE COURT: Yeah, go ahead. Yeah.12

MR. KOMATSU: Um, but . . . i f I r ecal l cor r ect l y13

t hat ’ s a case t hat t he Second Appel l ate Ter m r evi ewed and14

made a deci si on t hat essent i al l y st at ed t hat i f a Pet i t i o15

cont ai ns mat er i al mi sst atement s, t hen t hat war r ant s t he16

di smi ssal of t hat Pet i t i on, of t hat case.17

THE COURT: Okay. And what i s t he mat er i al18

mi sst at ement t hat you are seeki ng?19


THE COURT: That you ar e sayi ng r equi r es21

di smi ssal .22

MR. KOMATSU: Wi t h r egards. . . wi t h r egards t o23

our l ast cour t hear i ng on November 7, when I was aski ng24

Mr . Papami chael . . .25




THE COURT: I ’ m not t al ki ng about t he t est i mony1

You sai d t hat t hat case st ands f or t he proposi t i on t hat i f2

t her e ar e mat er i al mi sst at ement s i n t he Pet i t i on, t he case3

must be di smi ssed. So what i s t he mat er i al mi sst at ement4

i n t he Pet i t i on t hat you ar e r ef er r i ng t o?5

MR. KOMATSU: I was under t he i mpr essi on t hat i t6

al so appl i ed t o t est i mony. So t he argument t hat I had wa7

essent i al l y t hat Mr . Papami chael had expr essed mat er i al8

mi ss t at ement s dur i ng hi s t est i mony on November 7t h.9

THE COURT: What i s t he mat er i al mi sst at ement?10

MR. KOMATSU: Essent i al l y t hat HPD had made a11

mi st ake t hat caused t he r egi st r at i on of t he bui l di ng t o b12

shown as i nval i d dur i ng t he mont h of September , as opposed13

t o Mr . Papami chael ’ s f i r m havi ng i mpr oper l y act ed t o14

ensur e that t he bui l di ng was proper l y regi st er ed dur i ng15

t hat mont h. Al so, wi t h r egar ds t o t he i ssue of me not16

havi ng pr ovi ded access t o my apar t ment f or t he pur - . . .17

THE COURT: Wel l , I haven’ t deci ded t hat t hat ’ s18

t he case, yet .19

MR. KOMATSU: But - -20

THE COURT: That ’ s goi ng t o be f or my21

det er mi nat i on af t er t r i al .22

MR. KOMATSU: But - -23

THE COURT: So t hat por t i on of t he mot i on i s24

pr obabl y prematur e.25




MR. KOMATSU: Okay.1

MS. COOK: Your Honor , I woul d act ual l y argue2

t hat al l of t he el ement s t hat he’ s seeki ng her e ar e3

pr ematur e. Whi l e i t ’ s denomi nated as a mot i on, and t he4

par t i es have deci ded t o t r eat i t as a cross- mot i on, i n5

f act Mr . Komatsu i s aski ng t he Cour t t o make the ul t i mate6

det er mi nat i on as t o t he credi bi l i t y of t he wi t nesses- -7

THE COURT: No, no. . . but agai n. . .8

MS. COOK: - - bef ore we’ ve even f i ni shed t he9

t est i mony.10

THE COURT: But i t i s. . . I underst and Ms. Cook11

but agai n, t hi s i s. . . t hi s goes t o t he f act t hat whi l e Mr12

Komat su has some exper i ence i n t he cour t , wi t h t he cour t s,13

he’ s not an at t or ney, and you know t he. . . t he br i ght l i ne14

bet ween a di f f er ence of opi ni on, and per j ur y may be l ost15

upon somebody who’ s not an at t orney or a j udge. I f Mr .16

Komat su bel i eves t hat i t ’ s X, and somebody t est i f i es t hat17

i t ’ s Y, wel l i n hi s opi ni on, maybe t hey’ r e l yi ng. As I18

poi nt ed out . . .19

MS. COOK: Ri ght , t hat ’ s not gr ounds, t hough,20

f or di smi ssal .21

THE COURT: As I poi nt ed out . . . As I . . . as I22

poi nt ed out t o Mr . Komat su, whet her my sui t i s grey or23

bl ue i s a mat t er of opi ni on. And i t may t ur n out t o be24

t hat . I haven’ t deci ded whet her or not t her e has been25




per j ur y t hat was commenced. . . t hat was commi t t ed. That ’ s1

par t of t he ul t i mat e det er mi nat i on, and t hat ’ s why I sai d2

hi s mot i on i s pr obabl y premat ur e. Gi ve me one second, Mr3

Komatsu, I ’ m r eadi ng t hi s [ 10: 56: 16] Hegemann deci si on.4

[ PAUSE]5

MR. KOMATSU: One of t he j udges. . .6

THE COURT: Hol d on, one second.7

MR. KOMATSU: Okay.8

[ SI LENT READI NG TO 10: 57: 23]9

THE COURT: I ’ m not sure why you’ r e of f er i ng10

t hi s Hegemann deci si on, Mr . Komatsu, i t doesn’ t have11

anyt hi ng t o do. . . wi t h mi sst at ement s i n a t r i al . I n12

Heg. . . i n t hi s case t her e was a st i pul at i on. I n t hi s cas13

t he t enant sought t o be r el i eved of t he obl i gat i ons of t h14

st i pul at i on af t er she had been evi ct ed. And i t was onl y15

af t er she had been evi ct ed, and t he Cour t had deni ed her16

appl i cat i on, t hat t he Appel l at e t er m went and l ooked at17

t he al l egat i ons t hat wer e r ai sed, not onl y i n t he18

af f i davi t s , but al so i n t he Pet i t i on. And i t . . . i t f ound19

t hat on t he evi dence t hat i t saw, t hat t he l ower cour t20

made an er r or i n not r est or i ng t he t enant t o possessi on,21

and gr ant ed summary r eversal based upon t he cl ear err or22

and t he exi gent ci r cumst ances. I t st at ed t hat t her e wer e23

swor n af f i davi t s f r om t he Respondent , t he Pet i t i oner di d24

not submi t any wr i t t en document at i on i n opposi t i on to t he25




orders t o show cause, and f or other r easons, namel y t hat1

i n t he Cour t ’ s vi ew, by t he t i me t he case got t o cour t ,2

t he amount s t hat were sought i n t he pet i t i on were no3

l onger accur at e. And t hat based upon t hat , what i t shoul4

have. . . what t he l ower cour t shoul d have done i s conduct e5

mor e of an i nvest i gat i on r at her t han si mpl y so or der i ng a6

st i pul at i on gr ant i ng a j udgment . Thi s has not hi ng t o do7

wi t h a t r i al , or t est i mony at t r i al . I f you want you8

coul d have. . . Hect or ?9

MR. KOMATSU: The r eason I . . .10

THE COURT: At your conveni ence you can t ake a11

l ook at t hat deci si on.12

MR. KOMATSU: The r eason I present ed t hat case13

was, when I came across i t , i t cont ai ned a st atement14

i ndi cat i ng t hat i f t her e’ s a mat er i al mi sst at ement t hat15

per t ai ned t o t he pet i t i on, t hat war r ant s t he di smi ssal of16

t he case.17

THE COURT: Wel l , i n a nonpayment case, a18

mat er i al mi sst at ement woul d be, you owe $20, 000 wor t h of19

r ent , when you onl y owe $200. 00 wor t h of r ent , or20

$2, 000. 00 wort h of r ent . That woul d be a mat er i al21

mi sst atement .22

MR. KOMATSU: So, i f t hey’ r e cl ai mi ng t hat I23

deni ed access t o my apar t ment , and I act ual l y. . .24

THE COURT: They don’ t act ual l y make t hat cl ai m25




i n your pet i t i on. . . i n t hei r pet i t i on.1

MR. KOMATSU: What ’ s t hat ?2

THE COURT: They don’ t make t hat cl ai m i n t hei r3

pet i t i on. Al l t hey cl ai m i n t hei r pet i t i on i s t hat t here4

are t here ar e a cer t ai n number of mont hs t hat have not5

been pai d. You have an argument . . .6

MS. COOK: Your Honor , coul d I j ust get some7

wat er?8

THE COURT: Yes. Let ’ s t ake a br eak. Okay, sh9

has i t . . . you have an ar gument , t hat you di sagr ee wi t h10

t hei r st at ement s that you f ai l ed t o pr ovi de access. I11

haven’ t deci ded whom I bel i eve yet . I haven’ t hear d you12

t est i f y yet . So t hat por t i on of your cr oss- mot i on i s13

pr emat ur e.14

MR. KOMATSU: Ri ght . But , wi t h r egards t o t he15

i ssue of t he amount I guess I owe t hem? I f t hey’ r e16

cl ai mi ng t hat I owe t hem t he f ul l amount . . .17

THE COURT: No, no, no, t hey cl ai m. . . t hey cl ai18

t hese ar e t he mont hs t hat have not been pai d. I f you pai19

t hose mont hs, show me the recei pt s and I ’ l l t ake a l ook at20

t hem and we’ l l see wher e we ar e. . . i f i t r i ses t o t he21

l evel of a mat er i al mi sr epr esent at i on. That t he cour t ,22

af t er t r i al , awards you an abatement doesn’ t make t he23

pet i t i on f ul l of mat er i al mi sst at ement s. I t means t hat24

t he cour t has det er mi ned that t he f ul l r ent need not be25




pai d.1

MR. KOMATSU: So, i f t hey’ r e cl ai mi ng t hat . . .2

THE COURT: Don’ t put t he car t bef or e t he horse3

Mr . Komat su.4

MR. KOMATSU: I ’ m not t r yi ng t o.5

THE COURT: Yeah. No, act ual l y you ar e.6

[ 11: 01: 16] Because you’ r e pr esumi ng t hat I ’ m goi ng t o7

determi ne you don’ t owe t he r ent . And because you’ r e8

pr esumi ng t hat I ’ m goi ng t o det er mi ne t hat , you’ r e sayi ng9

t hei r seeki ng t he rent must be a mat er i al10

mi sr epr esent at i on. That ’ s put t i ng t he car t bef or e t he11

hor se.12

MR. KOMATSU: The onl y presumpt i on. . .13

THE COURT: Let me ask you t hi s, Mr . Komat su.14

Ther e ar e a cer t ai n number of mont hs t hat t he pet i t i on15

says have not been pai d. August and September .16

MR. KOMATSU: No, I pai d August .17

THE COURT: Li st en t o what I ’ m sayi ng. I ’ m18

sayi ng August and Sept ember . I f you pai d August i t may b19

a def ense, i t may st i l l not be a mat er i al20

mi sr epr esent at i on. I t may be wr ong. I t may st i l l not be21

a mat er i al mi sr epr esent at i on. That i t ’ s wr ong doesn’ t22

mean ever y. . . t her e’ s not hi ng t hat r equi r es t he pet i t i on23

t o be 100 per cent . I t has t o be a good f ai t h24

appr oxi mat i on of what ’ s owed. Ther e’ s case l aw t hat goes25




al l t he way up t o t he Appel l at e Di vi si on, both depar t ment1

i t says t hat . Car t bef or e t he hor se, Mr . Komat su.2

MR. KOMATSU: Oh wai t . . .3

THE COURT: Anyt hi ng el se on your cr oss mot i on?4

MR. KOMATSU: Um. . . wel l , wi t h r egards to t hat ,5

I shal l wai t f or t he Second Appel l at e Ter m t o r evi ew i t .6

THE COURT: Ver y good. Anyt hi ng el se?7

MR. KOMATSU: Let ’ s see. [ PAUSE] So, i f I8

under st and you cor r ect l y, I can’ t r ai se t he i ssue of a9

nei ghbor i n my bui l di ng harassi ng me as a def ense i n t hi s10

pr oceedi ng?11

THE COURT: Di d I si gn t he subpoena t o br i ng i n12

somebody el se?13

MR. KOMATSU: Because, i f i t ’ s i n my l ease14

agr eement , wher e act s of nui sance ar en’ t al l owed. . .15

THE COURT: Mr . Komat su, when you get on t he16

st and t o t est i f y, you can r ai se what ever i ssue you want t17

rai se, i f i t ’ s the. . . i f i t ’ s your argument t hat t he18

act i ons of a t hi r d par t y wer e t he r eason you di dn’ t pay19

t he r ent , go ahead and make t he argument . I ’ l l deci de20

whet her or not i t ’ s a val i d r eason.21

MR. KOMATSU: That woul dn’ t be t he ar gument I22

woul d make.23

THE COURT: Okay.24

MR. KOMATSU: I t woul d be t hat i t . . .25




THE COURT: So, how woul d i t be r el evant t o a1

nonpayment proceedi ng?2

MR. KOMATSU: I t di mi ni shed t he val ue of what I3

owe.4

THE COURT: Okay. You can t r y t o make t hat5

ar gument as wel l . [ PAUSE] The pr obl em t hat I t hi nk6

you’ r e goi ng t o have, t hough, Mr . Komat su, i s gener al l y7

when t he act s of anot her t enant have been f ound t o8

i nt er f . . . t o r educe t he val ue of an apar t ment , t her e’ s9

usual l y somet hi ng more t han put t i ng a si gn up that by t he10

mai l boxes. I t ’ s usual l y somet hi ng mor e al ong t he l i nes11

of , t he t enant pl ays t hei r dr ums at 3 o’ cl ock i n t he12

morni ng.13

MR. KOMATSU: Oh.14

THE COURT: You can’ t sl eep, t hi ngs l i ke t hat .15

I t ’ s. . . I ’ m not sayi ng you can’ t make t he ar gument , and16

I ’ m not sayi ng I woul d. . . I woul d pr ecl ude i t , because I17

haven’ t seen i t been successf ul l y r ai sed bef or e. But I ’ m18

sayi ng, i n gener al , t hat ’ s not t he t ype of behavi or f or19

whi ch a r educt i on i n ar r ear s i s war r ant ed, but you’ r e20

ent i t l ed t o make t hat argument .21

MR. KOMATSU: But I have t hat t oo, wi t h r egards22

t o noi se i ssues.23

THE COURT: Okay, great .24





[ PAUSE; NO SPEAKI NG 11: 04: 31 TO 11: 06: 17]1

[ OFF- MI C CONTI NUES TO 11: 06: 55]2

THE COURT: Any ot her i ssues, Mr . Komat su?3

MR. KOMATSU: Um. . . no. They’ r e goi ng t o need4

t o be addr essed i n t he Second Appel l at e Term.5

THE COURT: Okay. Ver y good. Gi ve me a coupl e6

of mi nut es t o wr i t e deci si ons on bot h of t he mot i ons.7

MS. COOK: Uh, Your Honor?8

THE COURT: Yes?9

MS. COOK: Assumi ng t hat your deci si on wi l l , um10

si mpl y st at e what you’ ve al r eady t ol d us, I have t he en. .11

my cl i ent has t he ent i r e f i l e her e, so i f you gi ve us a12

f ew mi nut es, we’ l l f i nd out i f t her e’ s any document s whi c13

woul d be r esponsi ve t o t hose port i ons of Mr . Komatsu’ s14

subpoena t hat you permi t t ed.15

THE COURT: I t ’ l l t ake me a coupl e of mi nut es.16

I ’ m goi ng t o do one mor e or al ar gument , and then I ’ m goi n17

t o st ar t wr i t i ng t he deci si on.18

MS. COOK: So, Your Honor , j ust t o. . . t o r ecap,19

par agr aphs 2 and 5.20

THE COURT: One, t wo and f i ve.21

MS. COOK: Ri ght . One we’ d al r eady agr eed.22

Thank you.23

MR. KOMATSU: One, t wo and f i ve per t ai ni ng t o24

what ? I mean. . .25




THE COURT: One, t wo and f i ve, per t ai ni ng t o1

your subpoena as t o Mr . Papami chael . Those, t hose- -2

MR. KOMATSU: They’ r e goi ng t o be st r i cken,3

or . . .4

THE COURT: No. No. The ot hers ar e goi ng t o b5

st r i cken. One, t wo and f i ve ar e i n, except t hat I ’ m6

r edact ed t he i dent i t y of any t enant s who’ ve compl ai ned.7

I ’ l l gi ve you t he cont ent , but not t he i dent i t y. Okay,8

bot h si des st ep back.9

MS. COOK: Your Honor , do we have t o r emove10

ever yt hi ng f r om t he t abl e?11

THE COURT: Yes.12

MS. COOK: Okay.13

THE COURT: Yes. . . yes.14

[ OFF- MI C, UNRELATED MATERI AL TO END AT 11: 08: 3415

[ 11: 59: 55 AM]16

THE COURT: Okay, we’ r e back on 75649 of 2014.17

On t he mot i on and cr oss- mot i on. The Deci si on and Or der o18

t he mot i on t o st r i ke/ quash t he subpoenas and cross- mot i on19

f or var i ous r el i ef i s as f ol l ows. Pr esent l y bef or e t he20

Cour t i s Pet i t i oner ’ s mot i on dated November 24t h

, 2014,21

seeki ng a Pr ot ect i ve Or der pur suant t o CPLR 3013 denyi ng22

or ot herwi se l i mi t i ng the document ary evi dence demanded i23

t he subpoena t o Const ant i ne Papami chael . Al so bef ore t he24

Cour t i s a mot i on by Respondent , her ei n deemed a cr oss-25




mot i on, seeki ng compl ete compl i ance wi t h the subpoenas, a1

determi nat i on t hat Const ant i ne Papami chael commi t t ed2

per j ur y, a det er mi nat i on t hat Pet i t i oner has f ai l ed t o3

compl y wi t h i t s l egal obl i gat i on t o r egi st er r ent s wi t h4

DHCR f or al l t he apar t ment s i n t he subj ect bui l di ng, and5

di smi ss i ng t he pr oceedi ng pur suant t o MDL 325, CPLR 27-6

2107, such f ai l ur e t o regi st er wi t h HPD and DHCR due t o7

not pr event i ng ot her t enant s f r om post i ng si gns cont ai ni n8

“har assi ng st at ement s” [ 12: 01: 18] and mat er i al9

mi ss t at ement s dur i ng t he member s’ t est i mony. The mot i on10

and cr oss- mot i on are combi ned and consol i dat ed f or11

di sposi t i on. Fi r st , t he subpoenas as t o Tor r es and12

Tr i st ai no ar e wi t hdr awn by Respondent . Second, t he13

subpoenas as t o Papami chael i s modi f i ed so as t o quash14

paragr aphs 3, 4, and 6. Par agr aph 2 i s modi f i ed t o per mi t15

Pet i t i oner t o r edact t he i dent i t i es of any ot her t enant s16

whi ch cor r espondence was had. As t o Respondent ’ s cr oss-17

mot i on, t hat port i on seeki ng compl et e compl i ance wi t h t he18

subpoenas i s deni ed f or t he r easons set f or t h above. That19

port i on seeki ng t he det ermi nat i on t hat Papami chael20

commi t t ed per j ur y i s deni ed as pr emat ur e si nce t he t r i al21

i s not yet over . The Cour t al so deni es t hat por t i on of22

t he cross- mot i on seeki ng di smi ssal as t he evi dence23

submi t t ed shows Pet i t i oner has r egi st er ed t he subj ect24

apar t ment wi t h DHCR, and t hat as of t r i al , t he bui l di ng25




was proper l y regi st er ed as a mul t i pl e dwel l i ng wi t h t he1

HPD. Last l y, t he Cour t has not yet det er mi ned t hat any2

mat er i al i n the st at ement s occur r ed and deni es t hat3

por t i on of t he cross- mot i on. Thi s const i t ut es t he4

Deci si on and Or der of t he Cour t , t r i al i s t o cont i nue5

f or t hwi t h.6

MR. KOMATSU: Your Honor . . .7

THE COURT: For t hwi t h t o mean i n t he next f i ve8

mi nut es, and I handl e one more appl i cat i on bef ore we’ r e t9

st ar t . Mr . Komat su?10

MR. KOMATSU: Can I get a t yped ver si on of t hi s?11

I t ’ s j ust har d t o r ead.12

THE COURT: I f you wi sh t o t ype i t , you’ r e mor e13

t han f r ee t o. I pr ovi de t hem as I pr ovi de t hem. Bot h14

si des can t ake seats, gi ve me one mi nut e.15

[ CALLI NG A DI FFERENT CASE]16

[ SESSI ON ENDS AT 12: 03: 03]17

(NOTE: NO AUDIO FILES BETWEEN 12:03:03 and 2:24:24 PM)18

( December 3, 2014 – 2: 24: 24 PM)19

THE COURT: We’ r e back on 75649 of 2014. You20

had a quest i on, Mr . Komat su?21

MR. KOMATSU: Um, yeah. I bel i eve we l ef t of f ,22

um, and I t hi nk. . . I bel i eve I was aski ng Mr . Papami chael23

a quest i on about a pr ovi si on t hat appear s on page 2 of my24

l ease agreement ?25



TURNBURY V. KOMATSU Papamichael, by Komatsu, cross 42

THE COURT: Mm- hmm.1

MR. KOMATSU: Um. . . Let me see i f I can be mor e2

speci f i c about my quest i on.3

THE COURT: Okay.4

[ PAUSE]5

MR. KOMATSU: Mr . Papami chael . . . when you. . . when your6

f i r m i ssued me t hi s l ease agr eement , why di d you or your f i r m7

bel i eve t hat t he radi at or s i n my apar t ment wer e not def ect i ve?8

MS. COOK: Obj ect i on t o t he f or m of t he9

quest i on, Your Honor .10

MR. KOMATSU: I ’ m t r yi ng t o make i t speci f i c.11

THE COURT: I ’ l l al l ow i t i f he can answer i t .12

Ther e i s an i nspect i on r epor t , i s t here not ?13

MS. COOK: Yes, t her e i s. I j ust don’ t know14

what i t has t o do wi t h t he l ease.15

MR. PAPAMI CHAEL: Can you pl ease expl ai n t o me what you16

mean by def ect i ve r adi ators?17

Q Um. . . wer e t hese def ect i ve i n t he sense of pr oduci ng18

noi se at such a vol ume t hat i t i nt er f er es wi t h my abi l i t y to19

sl eep and st udy i n t he apart ment .20

MS. COOK: Agai n, Your Honor , I woul d now have21

t o obj ect .22

THE COURT: Sust ai ned. Let ’ s t r y i t t hi s way.23

Mr . Papami chael , when you r ent ed t he apar t ment t o Mr .24

Komatsu, di d you bel i eve t he r adi at or s wer e f unct i oni ng25




pr oper l y?1

A Yes.2

THE COURT: And di d you. . .3

MR. KOMATSU: But t hat was i n t he summer t i me.4

THE COURT: That ’ s ki nd of t he answer t o your5

quest i on, i sn’ t i t , Mr . Komat su?6

MR. KOMATSU: Okay. Let me ask i t i n a bet t er way. Mr .7

Papami chael , wi t h r espect t o wi nt er , when st eam r adi at or s ar e8

needed t o pr ovi de heat t o an apar t ment , why di d you f eel t hat9

t he r adi at ors i n my apart ment wer e not def ect i ve?10

MS. COOK: Obj ect i on.11

A There was never a compl ai nt !12

MS. COOK: Mr . Papami chael , when t her e’ s. . .13

THE COURT: Mr . Papami chael , you have t o l et14

me. . . you have t o l et me r ul e on an obj ect i on once i t ’ s15

made.16

MR. PAPAMI CHAEL: I apol ogi ze.17

THE COURT: I wi l l al l ow t he answer t o t he18

quest i on.19

MR. PAPAMI CHAEL: I apol ogi ze.20

MR. KOMATSU: What . . . what I ’ m t r yi ng t o get at21

here. . .22

THE COURT: I al l owed t he answer t o t he23

quest i on.24





THE COURT: You can. . . I al l owed t he answer . . .1

t he quest i on and t he answer . You can ask anot her2

quest i on.3

MR. KOMATSU: Oh, so i t ’ s sust ai ned?4

THE COURT: No, i t was over r ul ed.5

MR. KOMATSU: Okay, so. . .6

THE COURT: The answer . . .7

MR. KOMATSU: I ’ m sor r y, t he answer was. . . ?8

THE COURT: Do you want hi m t o r epeat hi s9

answer?10

MR. KOMATSU: Yes.11

THE COURT: Repeat t he answer .12

A Ther e was never an i ssue wi t h t he r adi at ors. Never 13

compl ai nt .14

[ PAUSE]15

Q Mr . Papami chael , why do you bel i eve t hat . . . why do16

you seem t o bel i eve t hat i t t akes t he f i l i ng of a compl ai nt t o17

est abl i sh t he f act t hat t her e’ s a pr obl em wi t h some condi t i on,18

such as t he r adi at or ?19

THE COURT: You mean a compl ai nt wi t h. . . a20

compl ai nt by t he t enant , t o t hem? Or by. . .21

MR. KOMATSU: By a t enant , about a condi t i on, i22

or der f or t her e t o be a pr obl em wi t h t hat condi t i on.23

THE COURT: I ’ m not sure I ’ m f ol l owi ng your24

quest i on, Mr . Komat su.25




MR. KOMATSU: I say. . . why does i t . . . why does1

i t t ake someone f i l i ng a compl ai nt t o est abl i sh a f act2

t hat t her e’ s a pr obl em wi t h somet hi ng, as opposed t o. . .3

THE COURT: Wel l , act ual l y f i l i ng t he compl ai nt4

does not est abl i sh t he f act t hat t her e’ s a pr obl em wi t h5

somet hi ng.6

MR. KOMATSU: Or t he. . . or t he i ssui ng of a7

vi ol at i on.8

THE COURT: Wel l , t he i ssui ng of a vi ol at i on9

does est abl i sh t hat t her e’ s a pr obl em, at l east i n t he10

eyes of t he i nspect or as he appl i es [ 2: 28: 51] t he l aw.11


THE COURT: But a compl ai nt i s not est abl i shi ng13

t hat t her e was a pr obl em, a compl ai nt est abl i shes t hat14

t her e was a compl ai nt . So maybe you need t o rephrase the15

quest i on, because I ’ m not sur e I ’ m f ol l owi ng you.16

MR. KOMATSU: Um. . . okay. Thi s i s very har d. [ NO SPEAKI N17

2: 29: 11 TO 2: 29: 42] Mr . Papami chael , why di d. . . why di d i t18

r equi r e your r et ur n t o t he. . . t o t he U. S. f or r epai r s t o be19

made t o my. . . f l oor s i n my apar t ment ? What . . . i n other words,20

why coul d repai r s not have been made t o t he f l oor s i n my21

apar t ment pr i or t o your r et ur n t o the U. S. ?22

A I ’ m. . . I ’ m. . . You’ r e conf usi ng me.23

THE COURT: Ask i t a di f f er ent way.24

Q Um. . . Mr . Papami chael , I r ecei ved an e- mai l f r om you25




f i r m i ndi cat i ng t hat r epai r s cannot be made to my apar t ment1

unt i l you came back t o t he St at es. . . t o t he U. S. Why i s t hat2

so?3

A Can I answer ? Your . . . your st at ement i s t ot al l y4

f al se.5

THE COURT: Do you have t he e- mai l present ?6

Let ’ s see.7

MR. KOMATSU: I t ’ s here somewher e.8

THE COURT: Ar e you r ef er r i ng t o t he mot i on, or9

your answer?10

MR. KOMATSU: I bel i eve i t ’ s i n my answer .11

THE COURT: Okay.12


[ PAUSE, PAGES TURNI NG]14

MS. COOK: I bel i eve page 1 of Exhi bi t A t o t he15

Answer , t he mi ddl e e- mai l .16

MR. KOMATSU: Hmmm. . .17

MS. COOK: I don’ t know i f t hat ’ s t he one you’ r18

r ef er r i ng t o, but i t does addr ess t hat i ssue.19

MR. KOMATSU: Not t hat one. [ PAUSE] Um. . . I know I have20

t hi s, um. . . [ PAUSE] Okay. Mr . Papami chael , can you t ake a21

l ook at an e- mai l , or I shoul d say t he t r anscr i pt of an e- mai l22

t hat ’ s at t ached t o Exhi bi t A?23

THE COURT: Whi ch page?24

MR. KOMATSU: On page. . . t he back si de of25




page 1. The base of page 2.1

THE COURT: Does i t . . . does i t st ar t on2

Sept ember 9t h?3

MR. KOMATSU: Um. . . yes. [ PAUSE] My quest i on t o you4

essent i al l y i s. . .5

THE COURT: Hol d on, he’ s st i l l r eadi ng i t , so6

I ’ m goi ng t o. . .7

MS. COOK: Mr . Towaki , I j ust want t o conf i r m8

t hat we’ r e l ooki ng at t he same e- mai l .9

MR. KOMATSU: Thi s one.10

MS. COOK: Okay.11

A Ther e ar e t wo e- mai l s, obvi ousl y.12

Q At t he bot t om of t he page.13

A The t op of t he page?14

THE COURT: The t op of t he page, or t he bot t om15

of t he page, Mr . Towaki ?16


THE COURT: Read t he f i r st l i ne, j ust so I know18

we’ r e al l on t hi s. . . al l . . .19

MR. KOMATSU: Okay. [ PAUSE] The bot t om of t he20

page.21

MR. PAPAMI CHAEL: The bot t om of t he page?22

THE COURT: Read t he f i r st l i ne.23

MR. KOMATSU: Oh, sure. Good af t ernoon Mr .24

Towaki . Af t er r eadi ng your e- mai l r esponse sent t o my25




of f i ce st af f . . .1

A Wai t , wai t , wai t , okay. . .2

THE COURT: J ust gi ve hi m a second t o r ead i t .3

MR. KOMATSU: Okay. [ PAUSE] [ 2: 33: 51]4

MR. PAPAMI CHAEL: I t ’ s. . .5

THE COURT: Wai t f or t he quest i on.6

MS. COOK: Okay.7

MR. PAPAMI CHAEL: Okay, f i ne.8

THE COURT: Go ahead, Mr . Komat su.9

Q Mr . Papami chael , can you expl ai n t o me and t hi s Cour t10

what you meant when you apparent l y wr ot e, quot e- unquot e, “As11

you most l i kel y wer e t ol d by my of f i ce st af f , t hat I was on12

vacat i on, out of t he count r y, f r om August 7, 2014 t o Sept ember13

5t h, 2014, r et urned to work on September 8t h, 2014, and f or such14

st r ong compl ai nt s and i t ems t o addr ess i n the apar t ment r ent ed15

t o you short l y bef ore my vacat i on. The onl y person who was to16

i nspect and deci de what i s needed t o be done to cease such17

r epai r s woul d have t o be me, mysel f . Af t er al l , I t hi nk I ’ m18

ent i t l e t o have my vacat i on under t he USA, NYC l aws, and my19

apol ogy f or any i nconveni ence t hat my of f i ce st af f and I mi ght20

of caused you. ” Cl ose- quot e.21

A Okay. Okay.22

MS. COOK: What ’ s t he quest i on?23

THE COURT: What ’ s t he quest i on?24

Q What . . . what do you. . . what di d you mean when wr ot e25




that?1

MS. COOK: J udge!2

A I t . . . i t ’ s ver y expl ai ni ng, exactl y what you j ust3

r ead.4

Q The quest i on I asked bef or e t hat , I bel i eve was, why5

were repai r s not made to t he f l oor s i n my apar t ment bef ore you6

came back t o t he U. S. ?7

A Do I . . . ?8

THE COURT: Answer t he quest i on.9

A We’ r e speaki ng about t he f l oor , and t he bui l di ng i s10

qui t e ol d, and somet i mes you have f l oor s sl i ght l y squeaki ng i n11

sect i ons. So obvi ousl y, i f i t needs a maj or r epai r , t hen t he12

deci si on has t o be made f r om t he head of t he of f i ce, whi ch i s13

me. Any ot her . . . i t was not , t o my knowl edge, an emergency or14

unl i vabl e condi t i ons f or you t o occupy i t as you di d. Not t o15

be abl e t o wai t unt i l my r et ur n. Si mpl e as that .16

Q Mr . Papami chael , wi t h r espect t o an ear l i er e- mai l17

t hat I r ecei ved f r om Mel ody Tor r es of your f i r m, why di d18

someone tel l her t hat not hi ng. . . not hi ng coul d be done about19

t he f l oor s?20

MS. COOK: Obj ect i on, Your Honor .21

THE COURT: Over r ul ed. You want t o show. . .22

wel l , show hi m t he e- mai l .23

( PAUSE, PAGES TURNI NG)24

MR. KOMATSU: I ’ m j ust t r yi ng t o f i nd t hat25




e- mai l .1

MS. COOK: I t mi ght be t he f ol l owi ng page, Your2

Honor .3

MR. KOMATSU: Yeah, page 3, at t he t op.4

[ PAUSE]5

MR. PAPAMI CHAEL: Okay.6

THE COURT: What ’ s your quest i on, Mr . Komat su?7

Q Why was t hat cl ai m made by Ms. Tor r es, or someone sh8

t al ked t o, about t he f l oor s?9

A Mr . Komat su, we si gned t he l ease j ust about a day10

bef or e t he f i r st , or t wo days bef or e t he f i r st of August .11

The. . . t he e- mai l i s August 8t h, you have wal ked t hrough t he12

apar t ment wi t h t he agent , you si gned t he l ease not ment i oni ng13

anyt hi ng about f l oor pr obl ems. . .14

MR. KOMATSU: Your Honor . . . ?15

THE COURT: Excuse me. . . you want . . . l et hi m16

gi ve hi s answer .17

A Okay, wi t hout any f l oor pr obl ems, and t hen al l of a18

sudden, whi l e I ’ m. . . I ’ m. . . I ’ ve been away, you made a maj or19

i ssue t hat needed t o be addr essed, and my r esponse was, i t ’ s20

somet hi ng t hat can wai t unt i l I i nspect i t mysel f , and see21

exact l y what t he t enant i s t al ki ng about .22

THE COURT: Yeah, but t hat i s not hi s quest i on,23

Mr . Papami chael .24

Q That ’ s not my quest i on.25




A Okay.1

THE COURT: Mr . Papami chael , t he quest i on i s,2

f i r st of al l , you wi l l agr ee t he e- mai l doesn’ t say wai t3

f or Mr . Papami chael t o come back t o i nspect , r i ght ?4

MR. KOMATSU: Of cour se not .5

THE COURT: What does i t say?6

A I t says t hat , uh, t he f l oor boar ds, I di scussed t hi s7

mat t er wi t h my super vi sor , and t her e i s not hi ng t hat can be8

done. . .9

THE COURT: I bel i eve i t says Ms. Tor r es?10

A For t he squeaki ng. . .11

MS. COOK: No, i t says wi t h my super vi sor . I t ’12

f r om Ms. Tor r es.13


MR. PAPAMI CHAEL: Ri ght .15

THE COURT: And she spoke. . . and she di scussed16

i t wi t h her super vi sor .17

MR. PAPAMI CHAEL: Ri ght . That ’ s corr ect .18

THE COURT: Okay.19

MR. PAPAMI CHAEL: That i s. . .20

THE COURT: So, t he quest i on i s, why does i t say21

t hat a r epai r cannot be done? Not about t he other t hi ngs22

about you bei ng on vacat i on, do you know why i t says t he23

r epai r cannot be done?24

A Because t hey di dn’ t know how t o di r ect t he r epai r .25




They di dn’ t . . . t hey di dn’ t know how i mpor t ant or how ser i ous i t1

[ 2: 38: 52] so t her ef or e I suggest , wai t t i l l I come back, and2

i nspect i t .3

THE COURT: Next quest i on.4

[ PAUSE]5

Q Um. . . um. . . Mr . Papami chael , wi t h r egar ds t o t hat6

same e- mai l t hat we wer e j ust di scussi ng, what r eason, or7

r easons do you have t o bel i eve t hat t he cl ai m made by Ms.8

Tor r es was a t r ut hf ul st at ement , or t he cl ai m made by her9

super vi sor t hat she di scussed t he i ssue wi t h, const i t ut ed a10

t r ut hf ul st at ement about not hi ng coul d be. . . not hi ng coul d be11

done f or t he squeaki ng?12

MS. COOK: J udge, I ’ m goi ng t o have t o obj ect t13

t hat . At l east t he f or m, ‘ cause I ’ m not sur e whi ch. . .14

THE COURT: For m i s cor r ect , and I sust ai n. . .15

obj ect i on i s sust ai ned as t o t he f or m of t he quest i on.16

Q Um. . . [ PAUSE] Mr . Papami chael , wi t h r egards t o t he17

st at ement i n t he e- mai l , not hi ng t hat can be done f or t he18

squeaki ng, how can t hat be a t r ut hf ul st atement ?19

A I di dn’ t make t hat st at ement .20

Q That wasn’ t t he quest i on I asked.21

A The st at ement you’ r e quot i ng i s f r om Mel ody.22

Q I under st and t hat .23

A Okay.24

Q Do you have any r eason t o bel i eve t hat st at ement was25




t r ue?1

A I don’ t know what you mean by t r ue.2

Q I t says, not hi ng can be done f or t he. . .3

THE COURT: Do you. . . do you bel i eve t he4

super vi sor t ol d her t her e was not hi ng that coul d be done?5

As she says i n her l et t er ?6

A I cannot answer t hat .7

THE COURT: Next quest i on.8

[ PAUSE]9

Q Um. . . Mr . Papami chael , i f you l ook at t he e- mai l10

shown i n t he mi ddl e of page 1, wi t hi n Exhi bi t A, t hat was sent11

t o me by Chr i st i ne Tr i st ai no, um. . . how can i t be t r ue, wi t h12

r egar ds t o t he st at ement , Adol f o, al l i t em. . . sor r y, as st at ed13

per t he Super , Adol f o, al l i t ems wer e compl et ed and addr essed,14

wi t h t he except i on of your st atement of squeaky f l oor boar ds.15

A What ’ s t he quest i on?16

Q What I ’ m t r yi ng t o get at her e i s, Adol f o appar ent l y17

t ol d a member of your f i r m t hat he compl et ed al l r epai r s t hat 18

r equest ed t o my apar t ment , wi t h t he except i on of t he squeaky19

f l oor boar ds. I f vi ol at i ons wer e subsequent l y i ssued about20

t hose condi t i ons, how i s i t t r ue t hat Adol f o made t hose cl ai ms21

t hat he compl et ed t he r epai r s? I ’ m sur e t her e’ s a bet t er way 22

can. . .23

MS. COOK: Obj ect i on. Obj ect i on!24

THE COURT: Sust ai ned.25




Q Okay. What r eason do you have t o bel i eve Adol f o’ s1

cl ai ms, or t he cl ai m made i n t hat e- mai l about Adol f o havi ng2

compl et ed t hose r epai r s?3



MR. KOMATSU: Can I r ephrase i t ?6

THE COURT: You can t r y. I ’ m not sure what t he7

r el evance t hough i s, Mr . Komat su. You got a. . .8

MR. KOMATSU: The r el evance i s. . .9

THE COURT: You got a vi ol at i on t wo mont hs10

l ater , so- -11

MR. KOMATSU: I t ’ s an i ssue. . . i t ’ s about12

credi bi l i t y, peopl e maki ng st at ement s t hat l at er ar e13

pr oved. . . pr oven f al se.14

THE COURT: As I sai d, Mr . Komat su, peopl e can15

di sagr ee on whet her or not a condi t i on [ 2: 43: 52] i s a16

vi ol at i on or not . Peopl e can di sagr ee as t o whet her or17

not somet hi ng needs t o be cor r ect ed. That ’ s f i ne. They18

can t ake t he posi t i on t hat not hi ng needed t o be cor r ect ed19

you can take t he posi t i on t hat somet hi ng di d need to be20

cor r ect ed. I don’ t have t o r el y on ei t her one of you, I21

can r el y on t he i nspect i on r epor t .22


THE COURT: But because you t ake t he vi ew t hat24

i t ’ s a vi ol at i on, j ust as. . . j ust as i f you make a25




compl ai nt about somet hi ng. . .1


THE COURT: . . . And i t ’ s f ound not t o be a3

vi ol at i on, i t doesn’ t mean you’ r e a l i ar , Mr . Komat su. I t4

means t he i nspect or di dn’ t agr ee wi t h you.5

MR. KOMATSU: So, i f t her e’ s a l i st of t en i t em6

and somebody says, I t ook car e. . . I t ook, basi cal l y al l7

i t ems among t he t en were compl et ed. . .8


MR. KOMATSU: I f you t ake car e of seven of t hem10

not t en. . .11

THE COURT: Then I know t hat t hey wer en’ t , i f12

t he vi ol at i on comes back t hat shows t hat t here’ s seven13

vi ol at i ons .14

MR. KOMATSU: Umm. . .15

THE COURT: What t he document does show me, i s16

t hat t he pet i t i oner was awar e of t he condi t i on as of t he17

dat e. . . cer t ai nl y as of t he dat e of t he e- mai l s, and t hey18

t ook t hei r posi t i on. And i f t he posi t i on t ur ned out t o b19

i ncor r ect , wel l , t hey pay the consequences f or t hat20

posi t i on.21

MR. KOMATSU: What ar e t hose consequences?22

THE COURT: I deci de t hat !23

MR. KOMATSU: Okay. Um. . . Your Honor , I have n24

more quest i ons f or Mr . Papami chael .25




THE COURT: I ’ m sor r y?1

MR. KOMATSU: I have no mor e quest i ons f or Mr .2

Papami chael .3

THE COURT: Any r edi r ect ?4

MS. COOK: I have no quest i ons at t hi s t i me, but5

r eser ve my ri ght . . .6

THE COURT: Sor r y, any cr oss?7

MS. COOK: Ri ght . I r eserve my r i ght t o cal l8

Mr . Papami chael t o t he st and as a rebut t al wi t ness.9

THE COURT: You t hrew me a l i t t l e bi t f or a10

second t her e, Mr . Komat su. No cr oss. Al l r i ght . You may11

st ep down Mr . Papami chael .12

MR. PAPAMI CHAEL: Thank you.13

THE COURT: Any ot her wi t nesses, Mr . Komat su?14

MR. KOMATSU: Um, t hey were subpoenaed, t he. . .15

THE COURT: Okay, so you. . . you wi l l t al k wi t h16

t he hel p cent er about your . . . what your r emedi es are as t17

t hose i ndi vi dual s.18

MR. KOMATSU: I under st and t hat .19

THE COURT: Ar e t here any ot her wi t nesses who20

ar e pr esent ?21

MR. KOMATSU: But i t ’ s my under st andi ng t hat22

t hey can be hel d i n cont empt i f . . .23

THE COURT: I f you make t he appr opr i at e mot i on,24

and I f i nd t hat you have gr ounds t o gat e t hat . . . t o get25




t hat r el i ef , t hen you’ r e cor r ect.1

MS. COOK: Your Honor , speci f i cal l y wi t h r egar d2

t o Mr . Komat su’ s subpoena to. . .3

THE COURT: HPD?4

MS. COOK: HPD. I know I was cc’ d on a l et t er5

f r om HPD dat ed November 21st r egar di ng t hat subpoena. I s6

t hat l et t er par t of t he r ecor ds t hat . . . ?7

THE COURT: I bel i eve so.8

MS. COOK: Okay.9

MR. KOMATSU: You’ r e t al ki ng about t he one wher10

t hey ask me t o send t hem a check?11

MS. COOK: Wher e t hey r et urned your one check of12

ei ght een, and asked you t o send one. . .13

MR. KOMATSU: Yeah, I di d t hat .14

MS. COOK: Al l r i ght so ever y. . .15

THE COURT: I have. . .16

MS. COOK: And HPD di d i n f act submi t t he17

r ecor ds, i s t hat cor r ect?18

THE COURT: Cor r ect .19

MR. KOMATSU: However , Mr . Fer r i gno’ s not here,20

despi t e t he f act t hat t he subpoena speci f i cal l y di r ect s21

hi m t o appear her e t o pr ovi de t est i mony.22

THE COURT: Wel l , see here’ s ki nd a probl em, Mr23

Komat su. The per son t hat you subpoenaed t o appear i n24

cour t , i t ’ s f i ne, t echni cal l y t hey pr obabl y shoul d have25




made a mot i on t o. . .1

MR. KOMATSU: Quash i t ?2

THE COURT: . . . i s si mi l ar t o what Ms. Cook di d3

But t he document s are cer t i f i ed so t hey can come i nt o4

evi dence wi t hout a wi t ness.5


THE COURT: The quest i on t hat I woul d have i s. .7

I bel i eve Ms. Far r agut i s t he per son you’ r e r ef er r i ng t o?8

I s t hat t he name? Fer r i gno?9

MR. KOMATSU: Fer r i gno. . . Mr . Fer r i gno.10

THE COURT: Okay. Has t hi s person ever been t o11

your apar t ment ?12

MR. KOMATSU: Um. . . no. We’ ve exchanged e- mai l13

t hough.14

THE COURT: Has t hi s person. . . has t hi s person15

ever been t o the bui l di ng?16

MR. KOMATSU: Not t o my knowl edge.17

THE COURT: Does t hi s person have any knowl edge18

about anyt hi ng ot her t han what you’ ve t ol d hi m?19


THE COURT: And what ’ s i n t he r ecor ds?21


THE COURT: And what ’ s i n t he HPD r ecor ds?23

MR. KOMATSU: I haven’ t had a chance t o exami ne24

i t .25




THE COURT: Okay. But , does he. . . do I have an1

r eason t o bel i eve t hat he has any personal knowl edge about2

anyt hi ng r el at i ng t o t hi s case?3

MR. KOMATSU: Yes.4

THE COURT: Li ke what ?5

MR. KOMATSU: Um. . . wel l , I f i l ed ot her ,6

addi t i onal compl ai nt s wher e vi ol at i ons wer e not i ssued.7

THE COURT: Okay, so he has knowl edge t hat you8

f i l ed compl ai nt s.9

MR. KOMATSU: Yes.10

THE COURT: Okay, and. . . ?11

MR. KOMATSU: And HPD does not t ake act i on t hat12

t hey’ r e supposed t o t ake t o pr oper l y i nvest i gat e.13

THE COURT: Wel l , i t doesn’ t have anyt hi ng t o d14

her e. I don’ t have j ur i sdi ct i on over HPD t o make t hem15

i ssue a vi ol at i on.16

MR. KOMATSU: Thi s i s Housi ng Cour t , r i ght ?17

THE COURT: Yes, i t i s.18

MR. KOMATSU: And. . .19

THE COURT: And t hey’ r e an i ndependent agency.20

I cannot make t hem. . . j ust l i ke f or Adul t Pr ot ect i ve21

Ser vi ces I can’ t make t hem accept a per son as a cl i ent , I22

cannot make HPD i ssue a vi ol at i on [ 2: 48: 52]23


THE COURT: I can di r ect t hem t o do an25




THE COURT: Mr . Komat su, because you want i t ,1

doesn’ t mean ever ybody has t o j ump to do i t .2

MR. KOMATSU: I di dn’ t say t hat .3

THE COURT: Act . . . I ’ m expl ai ni ng i t t o you.4

I f , i n t hei r opi ni on, t hey can st i l l compl y wi t h t hei r5

mandat e and t hey don’ t have t o do an i nspect i on because6

maybe t hey di d one t wo weeks ear l i er . Maybe t hey di d one7

al r eady. Maybe t hey’ ve al r eady addr essed t he compl ai nt s8

t hat you’ r e addr essi ng. I have no i dea.9


THE COURT: But I cannot t el l t hem t hey’ r e goi n11

t o have t o pl ace a vi ol at i on.12

MR. KOMATSU: But you can. . .13

THE COURT: Sor r y?14

MR. KOMATSU: Sor r y. But you can di r ect t hem t15

conduct an i nspect i on based on a compl ai nt .16

THE COURT: They al r eady di d i n t hi s case.17

MR. KOMATSU: What I ’ m sayi ng i s, t her e’ s a18

par t i cul ar i nst ance and a cont i nui ng i nst ance i n whi ch I ’19

hear i ng f l ushi ng noi ses f r om t he pi pes i n my apar t ment .20


MR. KOMATSU: Whi l e t he bedr oom door i s cl osed.22

THE COURT: Okay.23

MR. KOMATSU: When. . . when I ’ m not usi ng t he24

pl umbi ng.25




THE COURT: Okay.1

MR. KOMATSU: And I speci f i cal l y asked HPD and2

Mr . Fer r i gno t o conduct an i nspect i on of t he pl umbi ng i n3

ot her t enant s’ apar t ment s t hat ar e t r i gger i ng t hose4

condi t i ons . . .5

THE COURT: Okay.6

MR. KOMATSU: . . . t hat ar e causi ng my sl eep t o7

be i nt er f er ed wi t h, my abi l i t y t o st udy t o be i nt er f er ed8

wi t h, and HPD r ef used.9

THE COURT: Okay.10

[ PAUSE]11

MR. KOMATSU: So. . . t he r eason why I el ect ed t o12

subpoena hi m i s essent i al l y t o ask hi m, i f I ’ m13

encount er . . . exper i enci ng t hese condi t i ons i n my apar t ment14

t hat ar e i nt er f er i ng wi t h my abi l i t y to sl eep, and HPD ha15

j ur i sdi ct i on f or conduct i ng such an i nspect i on, why has i t16

not conduct ed t hose i nspect i ons f ol l owi ng. . . ?17

THE COURT: What does i t have t o do wi t h t hi s18

case? Let ’ s say, f or t he sake of ar gument he says, “I t19

was an over si ght . ” Let ’ s say f or t he sake of argument he20

says, “I di dn’ t t hi nk an i nspect i on was necessar y. ” Let ’21

say, f or t he sake of ar gument he says. . . “I t ’ s not a t opi22

t hat I t hi nk. . . i t ’ s not an i t em t hat I t hi nk we can23

i nspect , because i t occur s r andoml y, and we’ r e not goi ng24

t o si t t her e f or f i ve hour s wai t i ng f or t he t oi l et t o25




f l ush. ” Let ’ s say he says any one of t hose t hi ngs.1


THE COURT: Then what ? What does t hat have t o3

do wi t h t hi s case?4

MR. KOMATSU: Every t enant has t he r i ght t o5

what ’ s cal l ed t he qui et enj oyment of t hei r . . .6

THE COURT: What does i t have t o do wi t h t hi s7

case?8

MR. KOMATSU: I know, I ’ m get t i ng t o t hat .9

THE COURT: But , what does t hat t est i mony have10

t o do wi t h t hi s case? I t doesn’ t pr ove t hat . . .11

MR. KOMATSU: I t . . .12

THE COURT: . . . i t doesn’ t prove t hat t he13

condi t i on exi sts . I t doesn’ t . . .14

MR. KOMATSU: I t hought i t was under your15

j ur i sdi ct i on t o di r ect t hem t o. . . perhaps adj ourn16

pr oceedi ngs, r equest t hat HPD conduct t hat i nspect i on,17

det er mi ne whet her t hi s pr obl em does exi st . To18

basi cal l y. . .19

THE COURT: Wel l , we di d or der an i nspect i on.20


THE COURT: We di d or der an i nspect i on, i n22

Oct ober , r i ght ?23

MR. KOMATSU: No.24

MS. COOK: I t hi nk t he t enant had. . . had made25




compl ai nt s i ndependent of t hi s proceedi ng, Your Honor .1

THE COURT: Okay.2

MR. KOMATSU: Yeah. But t he bot t om. . .3

THE COURT: And. . . and i n t hese compl ai nt s. . .4

wel l , Mr . Komat su, l i sten. I t . . . i t ’ s nei t her her e nor5

t her e.6

MS. COOK: [ OFF- MI C]7

MR. KOMATSU: Yeah.8

THE COURT: I f you want t o br i ng your mot i on f o9

cont empt , you’ r e f r ee t o do so.10


THE COURT: I onl y had a quest i on as t o what12

personal knowl edge about t he i t ems i n t he apar t ment , t he13

person you wi sh t o have come t o. . . t o have t o come t o14

cour t woul d have.15


[ PAUSE]17

THE COURT: But t he. . . but t he i ssue r eal l y i s,18

i s t hat even i f I had t he abi l i t y t o or der t hem t o conduc19

an i nspect i on - - and i n some cases, obvi ousl y, we do that20

i n pr oceedi ngs - - i t di dn’ t happen. Ther e wasn’ t an21

i nspecti on. And I cer t ai nl y can’ t or der t hem t o si t i n22

your apar t ment f or si x hour s wai t i ng f or t he t oi l et t o23

f l ush i n anot her apar t ment .24

MR. KOMATSU: However , um. . . I ’ m pr et t y sur e25




i t ’ s under t he CPLR t hat i f someone i nvol ved i n a1

pr oceedi ng pr esent s evi dence t o t he cour t , i f an agency2

does not i ssue a vi ol at i on wher e t he t enant f i l ed a3

compl ai nt , t he cour t has aut hor i t y t o basi cal l y st at e t hat4

t hat condi t i on. . .5

THE COURT: I can make my own f i ndi ng of f act .6

MR. KOMATSU: Exact l y, t hat ’ s wher e I ’ m t r yi ng7

t o get t o.8

THE COURT: You’ r e absol ut el y r i ght on t hat .9

MR. KOMATSU: I t mi ght be 27- 205, what ever .10

THE COURT: Or what ever i t i s, but I do11

[ 2: 53: 52] have t he abi l i t y t o make my own f i ndi ng.12

MR. KOMATSU: Ri ght . Because at t he end of t he13

day, t hi s pr obl em i s st i l l happeni ng.14

THE COURT: Mr . Komat su, you want t o br i ng a15

mot i on? Br i ng a mot i on.16


THE COURT: I ’ l l enter t ai n t he mot i on. As of . .18

as of now, t hough, do you have anot her wi t ness you wi sh t19

cal l ?20

MR. KOMATSU: I do, but I have not been al l owed21

t o have t hose par t i es subpoenaed. Whi ch. . .22

THE COURT: Wel l , t hen t hey’ r e not here f or you23

t o cal l t hem. Do you have anot her par t . . . anot her24

wi t ness, or another per son whose t est i mony you t hi nk i s25




r el evant t o t he case, who i s pr esent and avai l abl e t o be1

cal l ed.2

MR. KOMATSU: No.3

THE COURT: You don’ t wi sh t o t est i f y on your4

own behal f ?5

MR. KOMATSU: I do.6

THE COURT: Then. . . and you’ r e here, and you’ r e7

avai l abl e, yes?8

MR. KOMATSU: Yeah.9

THE COURT: Okay.10

MR. KOMATSU: I can’ t wai t f or t hi s t o get t o11

t he Second Appel l ate t er m.12

THE COURT: Nei t her can I .13

MR. KOMATSU: Um. . . okay, so I j ust st ep on. . .14

THE COURT: Br i ng what ever documents you wi sh t15

br i ng.16

MR. KOMATSU: Um. . . no, I ’ l l j ust l eave t hem17

her e.18

THE COURT: Okay. Come on up.19

[ PAUSE]20

( COURT OFFI CER) : Do you sol emnl y swear or21

af f i r m t o t est i f y [ I NAUDI BLE] - -22

MR. KOMATSU: I do.23

THE COURT: Let hi m f i ni sh.24

[ OVERLAP]25



TURNBURY V. KOMATSU Komatsu, by Komatsu, Direct 67

( COURT OFFI CER) : Your name and addr ess .1

MR. KOMATSU: Towaki Komat su, 35- 30 81st St r eet ,2

Apar t ment 6K, J ackson Hei ght s, New Yor k, 11372.3

THE COURT: Okay. So, Mr . Komat su. So you wi l4

be t est i f yi ng i n t he nar r at i ve. I t ’ s l i ke. . .5

MR. KOMATSU: A st or y.6

THE COURT: Wel l , yeah, but i t ’ s. . . i t means7

t hat t her e r eal l y won’ t be anybody aski ng quest i ons,8

pr ompt i ng r esponses.9


THE COURT: Agai n, r emember I wasn’ t t here, so11

t he more organi zed, and t he more, um. . . on- t opi c i n t er ms12

of pr esent i ng one t opi c at a t i me. . .13


THE COURT: Whether you wi sh t o do i t15

chr onol ogi cal l y, or r oom by r oom, or i t em by i t em,16

whi chever you wi sh t o do i s f i ne, but t he more consi st ent17

you ar e, i t ’ s easi er f or me t o f ol l ow, al ong wi t h your18

t est i mony, okay?19


THE COURT: Go ahead.21

MR. KOMATSU: Um. . . wi t h r egar ds to my l ease agr eement ,22

and havi ng moved i nt o my apar t ment , I moved i nt o my apar t ment23

on or about August 2nd. I bel i eve I met wi t h Mr . Papami chael o24

J ul y 28t h.25




t hi nk. . . maybe t he t hi r d week i n J ul y. And t hat was i n t he1

company of t he cur r ent t enant , I f orgot her name, and al so t he2

r eal est at e agent . But yeah, based on t he f act t hat t he3

exi st i ng t enant st i l l had her possessi ons i n t he apar t ment , I4

wasn’ t abl e t o do a t horough i nspect i on, and based on t he f act5

t hat t he i nspect i on was done i n t he summert i me, when t he6

r adi at or s wer e not t ur ned on, I di dn’ t [ 2: 58: 52] have t he7

opport uni t y t o t est and det er mi ne whet her t hose r adi ators woul8

make noi ses i n t he wi nt er . Based on t he f act t hat t he f l oor s9

wer e car pet ed, and t he t hi ckness of t hat car pet i ng, I was not10

gi ven t he opport uni t y t o det er mi ne whet her t he f l oor s squeaked11

And I bel i eve t he f l oor i n t he bat hr oom at t hat t i me al so had,12

l i ke car pet i ng over i t , so I wasn’ t abl e t o see whet her t her e13

wer e cracks i n t he f l oor i ng, um. . . And I don’ t bel i eve t hat I14

t est ed t he door i n the bedr oom, t o determi ne whether i t made15

noi ses i f I t r i ed t o open and cl ose i t . Essent i al l y. . .16

Q I ’ m sor r y, door t o t he bedr oom?17

A Yeah. Um. . . and al so si nce i t was summer t i me, I18

di dn’ t have t he opport uni t y to det er mi ne whet her t he st eam19

r i ser i n t he bat hr oom made bangi ng noi ses when i t was act i ve.20

Um. . . l et ’ s see. . . and al so. . . I ’ m not sure i f t he ot her . . .21

other t enant s i n t he bui l di ng wer e pr esent dur i ng my22

i nspect i on, so I wasn’ t i n a posi t i on t o det er mi ne how wel l t h23

apar t ment coul d be. . . was i nsul at ed f r om ext er nal noi se.24

Essent i al l y I di d a qui ck i nspect i on of t hat apar t ment , I l i ke25




t he si ze of i t , I t ook t he l andl or d at hi s wor d t hat hi s f i r m1

woul d be r esponsi ve t o repai r r equest s i f I submi t t ed t hem, an2

af t er si gni ng t he l ease, or when I si gned t he l ease on J ul y3

28t h, I had no i ndi cat i on as t o Mr . Papami chael t aki ng. . . t aki n4

vacat i on shor t l y ther eaf t er , and had no i ndi cat i on t hat no one5

woul d be l ef t i n hi s pl ace t o make deci si ons about r epai r s,6

i ncl udi ng possi bl e r epai r s t o f l oor i ng whi l e he was away. Um,7

so, yeah. Af t er movi ng i nt o my apart ment , or I shoul d go back8

When I met wi t h Mr . Papami chael , um, I al so i ndi cat ed t hat i t9

was my i nt ent t o st ay at a hot el , l i ke maybe a day or t wo, and10

gr ant access t o t he super i nt endent , so he coul d cl ean up the11

apar t ment and basi cal l y make t he apar t ment f ul l y ready f or me12

t o move i nt o, so f or , I bel i eve t wo days af t er movi ng out of my13

f ormer apar t ment , I was at a hotel i n Manhat t an, and by doi ng14

so, gr ant ed access t o t he super i nt endent of t he bui l di ng. I15

bel i eve hi s f i r st name i s Adol f o. Um. . . so af t er r et ur ni ng on16

t he Sat ur day, I bel i eve t hat was August 2nd, meet i ng wi t h a17

movi ng company t o move my bel ongi ngs i nt o t he apar t ment ,18

shor t l y t her eaf t er , I had st ar t ed not i ci ng t hese condi t i ons,19

such as pr obl ems wi t h t he f l oor i ng, i nsect s, l i ke a cent i pede,20

a r oach, um. . . and sent det ai l ed i nf or mat i on by e- mai l and21

al so, I bel i eve, by r egul ar mai l , t o Mr . Papami chael ’ s f i r m22

about t hese pr obl ems, and based on t he conver sat i on I had wi t h23

hi m on J ul y 28t h, i t was my f ul l expect at i on t hat al l of t hose24

mat t er s woul d be t hor oughl y i nvest i gat ed and addr essed. So, i t25




was a shock t o me t o get an e- mai l f r om Mr . Papami chael ’ s f i r m1

I bel i eve by Ms. Tor r es, i ndi cat i ng t hat [ 3: 03: 52] not hi ng2

coul d be done about t he f l oor s, and I bel i eve t hat e- mai l was3

r ecei ved on or about August 5t h, or shor t l y t her eaf t er . Um. . .4

and t hat , um, Adol f o had apparent l y made repai r s t o my5

apar t ment , whi ch I subsequent l y di scover ed had not been made.6

Um. . . and f or t hose r easons. . . f or t hose r easons, um, af t er not7

get t i ng t he cooper . . . t he cooper at i on f r om Mr . Papami chael ’ s8

f i r m t hat I hoped f or when si gni ng t he l ease, I pr oceeded t o9

f i l e l egi t i mat e compl ai nt s wi t h r egul at or y agenci es i ncl udi ng10

HPD. [ PAUSE] Um. . . but t he. . . at t hat poi nt i n t i me I was11

under t he i mpr essi on t hat I was payi ng a pr emi um f or my12

apar t ment compar ed t o t he l ast t enant at $1800 a mont h, and ye13

not get t i ng what I was payi ng f or , i n t er ms of t hei r14

r esponsi veness t o r epai r r equest s. So f or me I was equat i ng,15

you know, what I was payi ng f or wi t h t he expect at i on t hat I16

woul d get somet hi ng of val ue i n r et ur n. Al so, um, wi t h r egar d17

t o not bei ng abl e t o pr ovi de access t o my apar t ment on18

weekdays, when I si gned my l ease agr eement , um, pr i or t o t hat ,19

I si gned an empl oyment agr eement t o pr ovi de I T ser vi ces on a20

consul t i ng basi s t o Bank of Amer i ca. I n t hat empl oyment21

agr eement t her e’ s a pr ovi si on t hat cl ear l y i ndi cat es t hat22

excessi ve absent eei sm f r om work, by me, woul d be gr ounds f or23

t er mi nat i on of t hat agr eement . As. . . as a r esul t , when I aske24

f or r epai r s t o be made t o my apart ment , I was r equest i ng that25




t hey be made ei t her on a weekni ght , or a weekend. St r i ct l y1

f or . . . t o reduce the r i sk t hat my empl oyment woul d be2

t er mi nated i f I wer e t o agr ee t o pr ovi de access t o my apart ment3

on a weekday, based on t he mul t i t ude of absences I had al r eady4

i ncur r ed f r om my j ob, pr i mar i l y as a r esul t of a pr evi ous l ega5

pr oceedi ng i nvol vi ng my f or mer l andl or d.6

Q I ’ m sor r y, you asked f or r epai r s t o be done on7

weekni ght s and on weekends?8

A And weekends as opposed t o weekdays. [ PAUSE] Wi t h9

r egards t o the dates t hat I pr ovi ded access t o my apart ment f o10

t he pur poses. . . pur pose of havi ng r epai r s made, t he f i r st t wo11

days of August , when I was at t hat hot el i n Manhat t an, I12

bel i eve const i t ut es havi ng pr ovi ded access t o t he Super t o hav13

r epai r s made. I n f act , I bel i eve af t er t he f or mer t enant move14

out of t he apar t ment , he. . . Adol f o i nst al l ed, maybe a new. . . a15

si nk i n t he bat hr oom, or cabi net s i n t he ki t chen, so t hat t o m16

suggest s he had access t o my apar t ment f or t he pur pose of17

havi ng r enovat i ons made, i f not made al t oget her . And I18

bel i eve. . . and, wi t h r egar ds t o an e- mai l t hat I r ecei ved f r om19

Ms. Tor r es around, I bel i eve, August 7t h, or August 10t h, i n20

whi ch she cl ai med t hat Adol f o had i ndi cat ed t hat al l r epai r s21

had been compl eted. The st at ement by. . . t hat s t at ement by Ms.22

Tor r es cl ear l y suggest s t hat I had provi ded another dat e, i n23

August , t o Adol f o t o per f or m r epai r s. And t hen i n Sept ember , 24

grant ed Mr . Papami chael access t o my apar t ment on Sept ember25




27t h. Pr i or t o t hat I al so had of f er ed, I bel i eve Sept ember 201

as a date f or hi m t o come t o do an i nspect i on and have r epai r s2

made. However , I bel i eve I was t ol d t hat he had a memor i al3

ser vi ce [ 3: 08: 52] t o at t end.4

Q So he onl y came on t he 27t h?5

A Uh. . . yes.6

Q Okay.7

A Um. . . and. . . yeah, wi t h r egar ds t o ot her dat es t hat8

were request ed f or me t o pr ovi de access t o my apar t ment , I9

bel i eve t hose wer e pr i mar i l y request s f or access on weekdays10

t hat woul d have subj ect ed my empl oyment t o r i sk because of t hat11

pr ovi si on i n my cont r act . Um. . . al so f or ot her dat es, I was12

gi ven ver y shor t not i ce. . . ver y shor t not i ce t o pr ovi de access13

and si mpl y advi sed Mr . Papami chael ’ s f i r m t hat I woul d need14

mor e. . . mor e not i ce, suf f i ci ent not i ce t o pr ovi de access. I n15

addi t i on, as someone whose f or mer apar t ment was bur gl ar i zed on16

J anuar y 4t h of 2014, i n addi t i on t o t wo ot her t enant s i n my17

f or mer bui l di ng on that same dat e, I had a conver sat i on wi t h18

Ul ysses Rodr i gues who l i ves i n apart ment 2J of my cur r ent19

bui l di ng, and he advi sed me t hat hi s apar t . . .20

MS. COOK: Obj ect i on as t o what Mr . Rodr i gues21

may have sai d.22

THE COURT: We’ l l l et t he st at ement f i ni sh, and23

t hen you can r enew your obj ect i on. I ’ m j ust . . . I ’ m cur . .24

I ’ m not sur e wher e t hi s i s goi ng, so I j ust want t o. . .25




MS. COOK: Wel l , he al r eady has i ndi cat ed, i t ’ s1

goi ng t o be what Mr . Rodr i gues sai d.2

THE COURT: Wel l , I don’ t t hat he’ s of f er i ng. . .3

I don’ t know t hat he’ s of f er i ng i t f or t he t r ut h of t he4

mat t er , or f or t he basi s f or havi ng a par t i cul ar st at e of5

mi nd.6

MR. KOMATSU: Yeah.7

THE COURT: So. . . do you mi nd i f I r ul e on t he8

obj ect i on, Mr . Komat su?9

MR. KOMATSU: Sor r y. Sor r y.10

THE COURT: So, I ’ m goi ng t o al l ow t he r est of11

t he st at ement , you can r enew t he obj ect i on t her eaf t er .12

MS. COOK: Thank you.13

A Um. . . on a f ew occasi ons I ’ ve been asked t o pr ovi de14

Adol f o, who i s t he super . . . t he super i nt endent of my cur r ent15

bui l di ng, um. . . I ’ ve been asked t o gr ant hi m access t o my16

apart ment f or t he pur pose of havi ng r epai r s made. Wi t h r egard17

t o gr ant i ng Adol f o access t o my apar t ment , I shoul d poi nt out18

t hat he i s a per son I asked t o i nst al l an ai r condi t i oner i n m19

apar t ment . However af t er he i nst al l ed t he ai r condi t i oner and20

I t ur ned i t on, t hat ai r condi t i oner was l eaki ng wat er on t he21

f l oor based on how i t was i mpr oper l y i nst al l ed. Al so, wi t h22

r egar ds t o Adol f o, I had a conver sat i on wi t h anot her t enant ,23

speci f i cal l y Ul ysses Rodr i gues, who advi sed me t hat Mr .24

Rodr i gues’ s apar t ment was bur gl ar i zed shor t l y af t er a vi si t t o25




hi s apart ment by Adol f o.1

MS. COOK: Obj ect i on, move t o st r i ke. Hearsay.2

THE COURT: I t i s hear say, but I ’ m not sure why3

he’ s of f er i ng i t yet . So agai n, I ’ d l i ke t o know why he’4

of f er i ng i t .5

A Mr . Rodr i gues al so t ol d me t hat on a dat e when he wa6

i n hi s apar t ment , he saw Mi st er . . . he saw Adol f o on hi s f i r e7

escape out si de of hi s apar t ment t r yi ng t o br eak i nt o hi s8

apar t ment by t r yi ng t o f or ci bl y open t he wi ndow- -9

MS. COOK: Obj ect i on!10

A - - f r om t he f i r e escape.11

THE COURT: And why i s t hi s r el evant t o t hi s12

case, Mr . Komat su?13

MR. KOMATSU: I bel i eve t he r el evance t o t hi s14

case i s t hat , um, based on t he i nf ormat i on I was gi ven by15

Mr . Rodr i gues, havi ng Adol f o al l owed i n my apar t ment woul16

r epr esent a secur i t y r i sk, an undue secur i t y r i sk when I17

coul d have someone el se f r om Mr . Papami chael ’ s f i r m i n my18

apar t ment t o do what ever work t hey needed t o do.19

MS. COOK: So cl ear l y, Your Honor , t he hear say20

t est i mony bei ng of f er ed, i s bei ng of f er ed f or t he t r ut h of21

t he al l eged st at ement s.22

THE COURT: May I ask, Mr . Komat su, was t here23

ever a t i me when Mr . Adol f o came t o your apar t ment , and24

you decl i ned t o gi ve hi m access?25




MR. KOMATSU: Um. . . I bel i eve t hat ’ s cor r ect . 1

bel i eve t her e has been an i nst ance i n whi ch I di d, because2

I had ot her pl ans, or I was not pr ovi ded suf f i ci ent3

not i ce, um- -4

THE COURT: No, no, I ’ m not . . . not because of5

ot her pl ans or i nsuf f i ci ent not i ce, I ’ m sayi ng i s t here. .6

were t here t i mes when you decl i ned t o gi ve access, because7

of t he st at ement s a si ngl e tenant made to you about8

Mi st er . . . what ’ s hi s name, Adol f o?9

MR. KOMATSU: Yes.10

THE COURT: Okay. Was t here a t i me when you11

j ust sai d, you know, “I ’ m here, I ’ m r eady, I ’ m abl e, but12

I ’ m not goi ng t o l et you i n?”13

MR. KOMATSU: Not f or t hat r eason.14

THE COURT: Then t he obj ect i on i s sust ai ned.15

[ 3: 13: 52]16

MR. KOMATSU: Or , I shoul d say not st r i ct l y f or17

t hat r eason.18

THE COURT: I wi l l not accept t he hear say19

st at ement s i nt o evi dence f or t he t r ut hf ul ness of t he20

mat t er . To t he extent t hat you wi sh t o t est i f y t hey wer e21

a r eason why you deni ed access, I ’ l l accept t hem f or your22

st at e of mi nd.23

A Al so, whi l e speaki ng t o Mr . Rodr i gues, he pr ovi ded m24

wi t h a copy of a pol i ce r epor t he f i l ed f ol l owi ng t he bur gl ar y25




t hat t ook pl ace i n hi s apar t ment . So, t he r eason I br i ng t hat1

up, i s, as. . . as I st at ed, as someone whose apar t ment . . . whose2

own apar t ment was bur gl ar i zed on J anuar y 4t h of t hi s same year ,3

um, I . . . want ed t o ensure t hat ever y saf eguard was t aken t o4

prot ect my secur i t y and my bel ongi ngs i n my apar t ment . [ PAUSE5

Al so, um, af t er submi t t i ng compl ai nt s agai nst Mr . Papami chael ’6

f i r m, havi ng i ndependent i nspect ors come f r om HPD, t he7

Depar t ment of Bui l di ngs, and vi ol at i ons wer e i ssued agai nst Mr8

Papami chael ’ s f i r m about condi t i ons i n my apar t ment , and9

addi t i onal condi t i ons el sewher e i n t he bui l di ng, I r ecei ved a10

not e. . . I ’ m sor r y, on August . . . sor r y, October 25t h of t hi s11

year . I came back t o t he bui l di ng and not i ced a si gn t aped t o12

my mai l box i n t he l obby.13

Q I ’ m sor r y, t aped t o your mai l box?14

A Yes. Um. . . I have a copy of t he si gn on t he desk15

over t her e. I bel i eve t hat si gn l ed of f wi t h a st at ement16

r ef er r i ng t o me as a j ackass, um. . . shor t l y af t er not i ci ng i t17

t her e I r emoved i t f r om my mai l box, um. . . I made a photocopy of18

i t . I scanned t hat copy and e- mai l ed Mr . Papami chael ’ s f i r m,19

Mr . Papami chael di r ect l y, Ms. Cook about t hat , and r equest ed20

t hat Mr . Papami chael ’ s f i r m i nvest i gat e t hat , and t ake21

appr opr i at e act i on, cor r ect i ve act i on agai nst whoever was22

r esponsi bl e f or post i ng t hat si gn t o my mai l box. Um. . .23

however , si nce t hen. . . si nce sendi ng t hat e- mai l t o Mr .24

Papami chael ’ s f i r m, I have r ecei ved no i nf or mat i on what soever25




about any st eps t hat hi s f i r m t ook to conduct such an1

i nvest i gat i on, or t ake any cor r ect i ve act i on. [ PAUSE] Um, l et2

me go back a l i t t l e bi t . I ’ m. . . I j ust r eal i zed I ’ m j umpi ng.3

Wi t h r egards t o the i nspect i on of my apart ment t hat t ook pl ace4

on Sept ember 27t h. . .5

Q Sept ember 27t h, or Sept ember 29t h?6

A I bel i eve i t was t he 27t h, on a Sat ur day, at about7

10: 00 i n t he morni ng.8

Q Okay.9

A When t hat i nspect i on t ook pl ace, t he f i r st per son t o10

my apart ment pr i or t o t he ar r i val of Mr . Papami chael was an11

ext ermi nat or who r equest ed access t o spray ar eas of my12

apar t ment .13

Q I ’ m sor r y, on t he day of t he i nspect i on an14

ext ermi nat or showed up?15

A Yes. Pr i or t o t he ar r i val of Mr . Papami chael and I16

bel i eve someone named Car l o or Car l os.17

Q I ’ m sor r y, the. . .18

A Basi cal l y, t here was t hr ee peopl e at my apar t ment on19

t he 27t h.20

Q Of Oct ober?21

A Sept ember .22

Q September .23

A Act ual l y f our peopl e i ncl udi ng Adol f o.24

Q Car l o, you sai d?25




A Um. . . f i r s t . . .1

Q Car l os?2

A Wel l t he f i r st per son t her e was t he ext er mi nat or .3

Then. . .4

Q He came bef ore t he i nspect or ?5

A I ’ m sorr y?6

Q He came bef ore t he i nspect or ?7

A Um. . . wel l , when I say t he i nspect or , I was r ef er r i n8

t o Mr . Papami chael and Car l o.9

Q That ’ s what I was aski ng, Mr . Komt asu.10

A Yes, he was t her e [ 3: 18: 52] f or t he. . .11

Q So t her e wasn’ t an HPD i nspect i on on Sept ember 27t h?12

A No.13

Q Okay.14

A So on Sept ember - -15

Q Hi s name was Car ol s, r i ght ? And bef or e he ar r i ved. . .16

A There was an ext ermi nat or - -17

Q An ext ermi nat or . Okay, go ahead.18

A And al so Adol f o.19

Q Wi t h t he ext ermi nat or?20

A Af t er t he ext er mi nat or was f i ni shed doi ng hi s j ob.21

Q Di d you l et Adol f o i n?22

A Um. . . he di dn’ t ask, he si mpl y came t o my. . . my f r ont23

door , aski ng me t o si gn of f on some paper s t hat he di dn’ t gi ve24

me t he oppor t uni t y t o r evi ew bef or e I si gned i t . I . . . I was25




l ed t o bel i eve t hat t hey. . . my si gnat ur e was t o i ndi cat e t hat ,1

um, I was conf i r mi ng t hat t he ext er mi nator di d hi s work on t ha2

dat e.3

Q Okay.4

A So, af t er t he ext er mi nat or l ef t , af t er Adol f o l ef t ,5

shor t l y t her eaf t er Mr . Papami chael wi t h Car l o, or Car l os, came6

t o my apar t ment . Dur i ng hi s t i me i n my apar t ment , I was7

act i vel y r ecor di ng on audi o bot h condi t i ons. . . bot h noi ses f r o8

condi t i ons t aki ng pl ace i n my apart ment , such as t he squeaki ng9

f l oor s, and bangi ng pi pes. Um. . . dur i ng Mr . Papami chael ’ s10

vi si t i n my apar t ment on t hat dat e he made a comment about11

havi ng r ecei ved a phone cal l f r om a Di st r i ct At t or ney, i n whi c12

Mr . Papami chael cl ai med t hat he had been advi sed by t he13

Di st r i ct At t or ney’ s of f i ce t hat I was under some t ype of14

i nvest i gat i on. Af t er he made t hat comment , whi ch I f el t t o be15

annoyi ng, I asked, I bel i eve I asked hi m i f he coul d16

subst ant i at e t hat cl ai m, i f he coul d t ur n over phone r ecor ds17

t hat woul d ver i f y t hat , and he r ef used. Um. . . when Mr .18

Papami chael came t o my apar t ment , t he f l oor s i n my apar t ment19

wer e car pet ed. I bel i eve I had car pet i ng i n t he bat hr oom as20

wel l , i n my bedr oom. Um. . . l et ’ s see, and we pr oceeded t o wal21

t hr oughout my apar t ment , I was showi ng hi m areas of t he22

apar t ment where squeaki ng noi ses coul d be hear d f r om t he23

f l oor boar ds whi l e carpet i ng was on t op of t hem. We paused f or24

a moment out si de of my bat hroom, wher e Car l os, mysel f and Mr .25




Papami chael wer e st andi ng r i ght out si de of t he ent r ance t o my1

bathr oom and whi l e st andi ng t her e, t her e was a bangi ng noi se2

t hat was produced by the pi pes near by, I bel i eve f r om t he3

pl umbi ng syst em.4

MS. COOK: I ’ m sor r y, t hat was produced by what5

A The pi pes i n t he pl umbi ng syst em. I asked Car l o i f6

he had hear d t hat , and he t ol d me yes. When I asked Mr .7

Papami chael t he same quest i on, i f he had heard t hat , he sai d8

no, and somet hi ng t o t he ext ent t hat he wasn’ t payi ng9

at t ent i on, or he di dn’ t bel i eve he was payi ng at t ent i on t o t hat10

noi se. Um. . . and unl ess I ’ m mi st aken, I bel i eve I asked Mr .11

Papami chael how come r epai r s wer e not bei ng made t o my12

apar t ment on t he same dat e of t hi s vi si t , and I t hi nk he had13

expr essed t o me at t hat t i me, t hat he was onl y t her e conduct . .14

t o conduct an i nspect i on. However , pr i or t o hi s ar r i val ,15

Mi st er . . . I bel i eve I sent an e- mai l t o Mr . Papami chael cl ear l y16

i ndi cat i ng t hat , um, t her e wasn’ t a need f or a di scussi on17

bet ween mysel f and hi s f i r m, and t hat i nst ead onl y repai r s18

needed t o be made. So i t was my expect at i on on Sept ember 27t h,19

t hat t he pur pose of Mr . Papami chael ’ s vi si t t o my apart ment on20

t hat dat e was f or bot h an i nspect i on t o be done, and r epai r s t21

be done on t hat same date. Um. . . and f ur t her more, I bel i eve22

Mr . Papami chael had st ated dur i ng hi s vi si t t o my apart ment on23

t hat dat e, t hat hi s f i r m woul d wai t unt i l bei ng i ssued a24

vi ol at i on about t he f l oor s bef or e i t woul d make r epai r s t o25




t hose f l oor s. I nst ead of si mpl y t aki ng a compl ai nt f r om me, u1

[ 3: 23: 52] hear i ng t he noi ses f r om t he f l oor s whi l e he was i n my2

apart ment , and t hen maki ng r epai r s based of f of hear i ng t he3

noi ses, whi l e he was pr esent i n my apar t ment . [ PAUSE] Um. . .4

al so, wi t h r egar ds t o, I t hi nk cr acks i n t he f l oor t i l i ng i n my5

bat hr oom, I bel i eve dur i ng Mr . Papami chael ’ s vi si t , we wal ked6

i nsi de the bat hr oom, where he and Car l o were st andi ng on t op o7

t he car pet i ng t hat was act ual l y on t op of t he cr acks, or t he8

pr i mar y ar ea wher e t her e wer e cr acks i n t he f l oor t i l i ng, and 9

bel i eve I poi nt ed out ot her ar eas of t he f l oor t hat wer e not10

cover ed by t he car pet i ng wher e cr acks coul d be seen, t o11

basi cal l y show t hem t hat , you know, t her e was proof , t her e wer12

cr acked ar eas of t he f l oor s t hat r equi r ed r epai r . [ PAUSE]13

Um. . . and. . . and yeah, f ur t her mor e I bel i eve Mr . Papami chael14

had made compl ai nt s ver bal l y dur i ng hi s i nspect i on t hat af t er15

movi ng i nt o my apar t ment , hi s f i r m st ar t ed r ecei vi ng an abund-16

. . . a l ar ge number of compl ai nt s f r om r egul at or y agenci es t hat17

wer e t r i gger ed by compl ai nt s I had f i l ed wi t h t hose agenci es,18

and wi t h r egar ds t o t hat st at ement , um, I basi cal l y f el t t hen19

and cont i nue t o f eel t hat hi s f i r m i s actual l y r esponsi bl e f or20

any def ect s, or any condi t i ons i n my apar t ment t hat r equi r ed21

r epai r s, i nst ead of t r yi ng t o cast t he bl ame on me. I mean i f22

I ’ m bei ng char ged a pr emi um f or my apar t ment , and shor t l y af t e23

movi ng i nt o my apart ment , I ’ m abl e t o have t he condi t i ons i n my24

apart ment , such t hat I can see these pr obl ems, and t hen, you25




know, r esponsi bl y repor t t hese i ssues t o my l andl or d, t o t ake1

appr opr i at e act i on, t her e’ s no r eason f or me to be bl amed f or2

si mpl y r epor t i ng l egi t i mat e compl ai nt s t o hi s f i r m. Um. . . al s3

wi t h. . . and af - . . . f ol l owi ng Mr . Papami chael ’ s vi si t t o my4

apar t ment on Sept ember 27t h, on t he same dat e I , shor t l y I5

st ar t ed hear i ng l ar ge. . . l oud bangi ng noi ses t hat seemed t o be6

comi ng f r om underneat h my apar t ment , whi ch I subsequent l y7

l ear ned was caused. . .8

Q Sept ember 27

t h

?9

A Yeah. And I subsequent l y was t ol d by a member of hi10

f i r m, was caused by r epai r s havi ng been made t o somet hi ng11

cal l ed a f l ushomet er , t hat ’ s par t of a pl umbi ng syst em. Um. . .12

i n, I bel i eve, i n Apar t ment 4K, um, f or t he pur pose, I guess,13

of t r yi ng t o el i mi nat e t he noi ses t hat I was hear i ng i n t he14

pl umbi ng syst em when I was i n my apar t ment and not usi ng t he15

pl umbi ng syst em. Subsequent t o t hat , I bel i eve I r ecei ved an16

e- mai l f r om Chr i st i ne Tr i st ai no aski ng me i f I was sti l l17

exper i enci ng t he condi t i ons about noi se i n my apar t ment , wi t h18

r egards t o t he pl umbi ng syst em. And I bel i eve I expr essed t o19

her t hat i t was st i l l an i ssue. Um- -20

Q I ’ m sor r y, e- mai l ed you, or . . . ?21

A Yeah. So af t er I expr essed t o her t hat i t was st i l l22

an i ssue, um, I r ecei ved no f ur t her i ndi cat i on t hat any act i on23

was t aken by Mr . Papami chael ’ s f i r m t o el i mi nat e t hat pr obl em.24

Addi t i onal pr obl ems I ’ ve had wi t h my apar t ment have i ncl uded25




excessi ve noi se i nt er f er i ng wi t h my abi l i t y t o st udy and sl eep1

i n my apar t ment . On mul t i pl e occasi ons, af t er havi ng my2

abi l i t y to st udy and sl eep i n my apart ment because of noi se3

comi ng t hr ough t he f l oor boar ds of my apar t ment f r om apar t ment4

5K, I r eached out t o 311 t o r epor t noi se compl ai nt s, t o 311,5

and havi ng r out ed t o t he NYPD. Af t er [ 3: 28: 53] f i l i ng t hose6

compl ai nt s wi t h 311, I r ecei ved e- mai l messages f r om 311 i n7

whi ch st at ement s were made i ndi cat i ng t hat t he NYPD8

i nvest i gat ed and t ook act i on t o cor r ect t he condi t i on.9

MS. COOK: Obj ect i on as t o st at ement s made by10

some uni dent i f i ed per son.11

THE COURT: Do you bel i eve t hat t he NYPD12

i nvest i gat ed and took act i on, Mr . Komat su?13

MR. KOMATSU: Based on t he e- mai l s t hat I14

r ecei ved, yes.15

THE COURT: Over r ul ed. Cont i nue.16

A Al so, as wi nt er appr oached, and t he heat i ng syst em i17

my apar t ment was t ur ned on, um, I r out i nel y hear d l oud,18

ext r emel y l oud hi ssi ng noi ses f r om t he r adi at or i n my ki t chen,19

and al so hi ssi ng noi ses f r om t he r adi at or i n my l i vi ng r oom an20

bedr oom. I i mmedi at el y r epor t ed t hat t o my l andl ord, as wel l21

as t he f act t hat t he r adi at or i n t he hal l way on t he 6t h f l oor22

was si mi l ar l y maki ng l oud hi ss i ng noi ses when t ur ned on. That23

pr obl em, no act i on has been t aken t o f i x t hat , ei t her i n t he24

hal l . . . t o t he best of my knowl edge, ei t her i n t he hal l way nor25




i n my apar t ment . I . . . I have r ecorded numer ous audi o1

r ecor di ngs, vi deo r ecor di ngs, t hat conf i r m t hat t hese hi ssi ng2

noi ses have been t aki ng pl ace, i ncl udi ng whi l e a HPD i nspect or3

was i n my apar t ment , and I bel i eve t hi s uh, sound. . . i t ’ s4

cal l ed a Sound Level Met er devi ce, was showi ng noi se r eadi ngs5

at about 80 l e- . . . 80 deci bel s f r om t he r adi at or i n my ki t chen6

I have a vi deo recor di ng of t hat , and I bel i eve I may have sent7

t hat t o Pet i t i oner and Ms. Cook, ei t her a vi deo or a phot o of8

t hat . So, t he r eason we’ r e her e t oday i s because t he9

Pet i t i oner commenced a nonpayment proceedi ng agai nst me, and10

pur suant t o t he i nf or mat i on I was gi ven on J ul y 28t h when I met11

wi t h Mr . Papami chael , t he r eason why I chose t o wi t hhol d r ent12

unt i l such t i me t hat r epai r s were made t o my apar t ment13

compl et el y, i s because t hat t ask has not been done. I nst ead, 14

cont i nued t o have my abi l i t y t o sl eep and st udy i n my apar t ment15

i nt er f er ed wi t h by t he def ect i ve r adi at or s, by t he squeaki ng16

f l oor boar ds, by one or mor e t enant s i n t he bui l di ng t hat have17

post ed a t ot al of si x si gns i n t he bui l di ng on or about Oct obe18

25t h and November 23r d, har assi ng me, i n whi ch t hat t enant or19

t enant s r ef er r ed t o me as a j ackass, cl ai med t hat I l ost my20

mi nd, and had submi t t ed compl ai nt s about nothi ng, i ncl udi ng,21

and i n one of t hose si gns i t has t he e- mai l addr ess shown at22

t he bot t om of t he si gn, whi ch seems t o be an e- mai l addr ess23

associ ated wi t h the t enant l i vi ng i n apart ment 1K and her name24

I bel i eve i s Mar i l ee Newi t t [ ??] . That si gn was dat ed. . . was25




post ed on my. . . i n t he el evat or s on or about November 23r d.1

Subsequent t o that , I e- mai l ed Ms. Cook and t he pet i t i oner2

copi es of t hose si gns, and si mi l ar l y. . . si mi l ar l y asked t hat3

t hey i nvest i gat e t o i dent i f y who was r esponsi bl e f or post i ng4

t hose si gns, and t o t ake cor r ect i ve act i on by evi ct i ng t hat5

t enant and r el easi ng t he vi deo f r om t he vi deo camer as i n t he6

el evat or f or t he pur pose of i dent i - . . . conf i r mi ng t he i dent i t y7

of t he per son who post ed the si gns i n those el evat or s on t hat8

dat e. Um. . . yest er day, I was at t he 115 Pr eci nct i n J ackson9

Hei ght s f i l i ng a pol i ce r epor t on t he basi s of har assment10

agai nst Ms. Newi t t . I showed t hem copi es of t he si gns t hat11

appeared i n t he [3: 33: 53] i n my bui l di ng on Oct ober 25t h and12

November 23r d. I was t ol d by t he sergeant t hat was i n t he13

compl ai nt r oom, t hat wi t h r egar ds t o pr ovi si on. . . I t hi nk14

Sect i on 240. 26 of t he New Yor k Penal Code, whoever post ed t he15

si gns i n my apar t ment bui l di ng had commi t t ed a vi ol at i on of . . .16

MS. COOK: Obj ect i on as t o. . .17

THE COURT: Sust ai ned. St r i cken.18

A Okay. Al so, um. . . dur i ng our ear l i er cour t hear i ng,19

on November 7t h I bel i eve one of t he st at ement s t hat was made b20

Your Honor and r ecor ded on audi o, t hat you. . . Your Honor woul d21

not grant a 100% r ent abat ement t o me, and that st at ement was22

made pr i or t o any r evi ew of t he evi dence, and any t est i mony by23

wi t nesses i n t hi s case. So wi t h r egar ds t o t hat st at ement by24

Your Honor , I f el t t hen, and cont i nue t o f eel t hat such a25




st at ement was bi ased, gi ven the f act t hat i t was made pr i or t o1

any consi der at i on of , um, t he r el evant evi dence i n t hi s case,2

and. . .3

THE COURT: I f you r emember , Mr . Komat su, I4

asked you i f you vacated t he pr emi ses, and I t ol d you t ha5

under t he pr evai l i ng case l aw i t was my opi ni on t hat6

wi t hout a vacat ur , 100% abat ement won’ t be war r ant ed. So7

as l ong as you’ r e goi ng t o r ai se our di scussi on dur i ng8

your t est i mony, you shoul d at l east r ai se the whol e9

di scussi on, and not j ust a por t i on of i t .10

MR. KOMATSU: Al l r i ght .11

THE COURT: But you may cont i nue.12

A Al so, wi t h r egards t o t hat same pr oceedi ng on13

November 7t h, unl ess I ’ m mi st aken, I asked Mr . Papami chael14

mul t i pl e quest i ons whi l e he was servi ng as a wi t ness. One of15

t hose quest i ons I asked hi m was why r epai r s had not been made16

t o my apar t ment on Sept ember 27t h, when I gr ant ed hi m and Car l o17

or Car l os access t o my apart ment . And I bel i eve hi s r esponse18

was, because I deni ed access t o my apar t ment , and t hat he f el t19

t hat he was i n my apar t ment i n Sept ember 7t h s t r i ct l y f or t he20

pur pose of conduct i ng an i nspect i on.21

MS. COOK: I ’ m sor r y, 7t h or 27t h?22

MR. KOMATSU: 27t h.23

THE COURT: 27t h, yes.24

A I bel i eve I al so asked Mr . Papami chael why t he25




i t , Ms. Cook, so I ’ l l al l ow hi m t o f i ni sh t he sent ence,1

and t hen we’ l l go f r om t her e.2

A The pur pose of what I ’ m st at i ng i s t o have i t on t he3

r ecor d.4

THE COURT: I t i s on t he r ecor d, Mr . Komat su.5

We have oral argument s, on t he mot i on and cr oss- mot i on. . .6

A [ OVERLAP] Okay, I ’ l l ski p i t t hen. Um. . . so. . . t he7

bot t om l i ne i s t hi s, um. . . j ust l i ke any ot her pr oduct or8

ser vi ce t hat someone pays f or , my expect at i on i s, i f I pay f or9

somet hi ng, and I don’ t get , uh, i n. . . I don’ t get i n r et ur n10

what was promi sed t o me, t hen I bel i eve I have t he rel i ef of11

wi t hhol di ng payment unt i l such t i me that I r ecei ve t he ser vi ce12

or pr oduct t hat I pai d f or . I n August , or J ul y, I pr ovi ded on13

mont h. . . a one mont h secur i t y deposi t t o Mr . Papami chael ’ s14

f i r m. I pr ovi ded t he f i r st mont h’ s rent t o Mr . Papami chael ’ s15

f i r m f or t he mont h of August . I pr ovi ded a br oker f ee t o t he16

r eal est at e br oker . I al so pr ovi ded an appl i cat i on f ee of , I17

bel i eve i t was f or $300, or $400, I don’ t r ecal l cor ec- . . .18

exact l y, t o t he br oker . And as I st at ed, af t er pr ovi di ng t hos19

f ees t o Mr . Papami chael ’ s f i r m and t he br oker , I moved i nt o my20

apar t ment on or about t he second day of August , af t er havi ng21

pr ovi di ng Adol f o wi t h what I f el t t o be suf f i ci ent access t o my22

apar t ment f or . . .23

MS. COOK: J udge, I ’ m j ust goi ng t o obj ect i f24

he’ s j ust goi ng t o si mpl y st ar t r epeat i ng hi s ent i r e25




t est i mony.1

THE COURT: Ar e you summar i zi ng agai n, or maki n2

a summat i on, or ar e you j ust . . .3

MR. KOMATSU: No. . . I guess I ’ m maki ng a4

summat i on here.5

THE COURT: Ti me f or summat i on hasn’ t happened6

yet , Mr . Komatsu.7

MR. KOMATSU: Okay. Um. . . wel l al so, I have8

r ecei ved r epor t s f r om Mr . Papami chael ’ s f i r m cl ai mi ng t hat9

I have har assed Mr . Papami chael ’ s f i r m, and tenant s i n t h10

bui l di ng, whi ch i s ent i r el y f al se. I nst ead, si mpl y as a11

t enant I ’ ve opt ed t o exer ci se my. . . exer ci se my ri ght s as12

a t enant under al l t he l aws t hat appl y t o r ent er s i n t he13

St at e of New Yor k. To. . . f or t he pur pose of t r yi ng t o14

enf or ce t he War r ant y of Habi t abi l i t y. However , i t has15

st r i ct l y been Mr . Papami chael ’ s f i r m t hat has chosen t o16

breach my l ease agr eement , t o br each t he War r ant y of17

Habi t abi l i t y, t o br each my r i ght t o t he qui et enj oyment of18

my apart ment , and t o not t ake appr opr i ate cor r ect i ve19

act i on agai nst t enant s i n my bui l di ng t hat have chosen t o20

vi ol ate t he pr ovi si on on page 2 of my l ease agr eement t ha21

per t ai ns t o obj ect i onabl e conduct i n my apar t ment22

bui l di ng. So, so a r esul t of t hei r f ai l ur e and r ef usal t23

make r epai r s i n my apart ment , and t hei r f ai l ur e and24

r ef usal t o t ake appr opr i at e cor r ect i ve act i ons agai nst25




t enant s t hat have har assed me, and produced excessi ve1

noi se t hat have i nt er f er ed wi t h my abi l i t y t o st udy, r el ax2

and sl eep i n my apar t ment , I have chosen t o wi t hhol d3

payment of r ent unt i l such t i me t hat Mr . Papami chael and4

hi s f i r m have f ul l y met t hei r l egal obl i gat i ons.5

THE COURT: Anyt hi ng el se, Mr . Komat su?6


THE COURT: You ment i oned ear l i er t hat you had8

t apes?9


THE COURT: Do you wi sh t o of f er t hose i nt o11

evi dence?12


THE COURT: Di d you make copi es t hat t he Cour t14

coul d r et ai n?15

MR. KOMATSU: They’ r e not readi l y avai l abl e,16

t hey’ r e at home.17

THE COURT: Okay.18

MR. KOMATSU: I have t he r ecor di ngs on my l apt o19

whi ch I have wi t h me her e, whi ch I coul d pl ayback f or t he20

benef i t of t he Cour t , i f . . .21

THE COURT: I s t hat what you wi sh t o do?22

MR. KOMATSU: Yes.23

THE COURT: Okay. And any ot her documents you24

wi sh t o br i ng up. [ 3: 43: 53] Whi l e you set t hat up, I ’ l l25




t al ki ng t o i n t he hal l way.1

( COURT OFFI CER) : [ OFF- MI C] Al l whi t e guys l ook2

al i ke anyway.3

( UNKNOWN PARTY) : [ LAUGHTER] I ’ m here every day4

on 10, 15, 20 cases.5

MR. KOMATSU: Okay. [ PAUSE]6

( UNKNOWN PARTY) : I have no i dea. [ PAUSE] I s7

J udge [ Mal el l a??] here t oday?8

( COURT OFFI CER) : Yes, he i s.9

MR. KOMATSU: He’ s t he same j udge t hat r ef used10

t o enf orce t he harassment l aw, r egardi ng my f ormer11

l andl or d. [ PAUSE] Tenant s of my f or mer bui l di ng12

compl ai ned about t he el evat or f or seven year s, i t was13

br eaki ng down.14

( COURT OFFI CER) : You shoul dn’ t r eal l y t al k15

about your case, r i ght .16

MR. KOMATSU: Huh?17

( COURT OFFI CER) : You don’ t want me t o say18

anyt hi ng about your l andl or d.19

MR. KOMATSU: Huh?20

( COURT OFFI CER) : You don’ t want t o say anyt hi n21

about your l andl or d.22

MR. KOMATSU: No, about my f or mer l andl or d.23

( UNKNOWN PARTY) : The j udge i s st i l l on t he24

r ecor d.25




( COURT OFFI CER) : Huh? Yeah, I know, i t ’ s- -1

( UNKNOWN PARTY) : The r ecor d’ s st i l l on. [ PAUSE2

MR. KOMATSU: So you’ r e f r om Tennessee?3

THE COURT: That ’ s a f act .4

MR. KOMATSU: And you used t o be a l andl or d5

l awyer .6

THE COURT: That ’ s al so a f act . You may wi sh t7

r ef r ai n f r om communi cat i on at t hi s poi nt , Mr . Komat su- -8

MR. KOMATSU: Okay.9

THE COURT: - - whi l e, uh, Ms. Cook i s al so out .10

[ PAUSE] Al t hough i n act ual i t y, my bi ggest cases wer e one11

wher e I r epr esent ed t enant s, so. . . I don’ t know how you. .12

MR. KOMATSU: I di dn’ t come acr oss any r ecord o13

t hat . [ PAUSE]14

THE COURT: I s Ms. Cook out si de?15

[ PAUSE, NO SPEAKI NG 3: 47: 50 t o 3: 48: 15]16

THE COURT: Okay, so we’ r e back on Turnbury vs.17

Komat su. Mr . Komat su, you’ r e goi ng t o have t o gi ve a18

l i t t l e bi t of backgr ound on t he t apes t hat you’ r e19

of f er i ng.20

MR. KOMATSU: Okay. Um. . .21

THE COURT: Let me t el l you what I ’ m l ooki ng22

f or . Namel y t he dat e, t he t hi ng t hat I ’ m supposed t o be23

l i s teni ng t o, t he. . . i dent i f yi ng what i t i s I ’ m l i s teni ng24

t o, al l r i ght ? And, um, who i f anybody was pr esent at t h25




t i me t hat t he recor di ng was made.1

MR. KOMATSU: Okay.2

THE COURT: Okay?3


THE COURT: I f you al so happen t o r emember t he5

t i me I ’ l l t ake t hat , but t hat ’ s not r eal l y [ 3: 48: 53]6

necessary. Okay, go ahead.7

MR. KOMATSU: I ’ m t r yi ng t o get i t r eady.8

THE COURT: Mar ked as Respondent ’ s A f or I D.9

MS. COOK: And what i s i t exact l y t hat we’ r e10

marki ng, Your Honor?11

THE COURT: Wel l , what I ’ m goi ng t o do i s t hi s,12

I ’ m goi ng t o l i st en t o i t on t he l apt op, and on t he r et ur13

dat e, because I presume we’ r e goi ng t o have more days of14

t hi s, si nce at l east t her e’ s goi ng t o be a mot i on, um. . . 15

wi l l have Mr . Komat su br i ng a t ape f or Pet i t i oner and a16

t ape f or t he Cour t , so t hat we have t hose document s, t hos17

i t ems i n possessi on. Obvi ousl y i f i t ’ s a r ecor di ng, he’ s18

goi ng t o not gi ve me 15 i ndi vi dual di sks, he’ s goi ng t o19

gi ve me one di sk wi t h al l of t hem. I ’ m mar ki ng t he f i r st20

one as A, t he second one as B, r i ght ? So on and so on.21

Do you under st and, Mr . Komat su?22


THE COURT: Okay.24

[ OFF- MI C 3: 50: 03 TO 3: 50: 55]25




MR. KOMATSU: Okay. Um. . . t he f i r st t hi ng t hat1

I woul d l i ke t o show t hi s Cour t , or pl ay. . . I shoul d say2

pl ay back f or t hi s Cour t i s a vi deo recor di ng t hat I made3

i n my apart ment on, l et ’ s see, Oct ober 12t h, 2014 t hat4

begi ns at 8: 08 AM.5

THE COURT: Okay. Turn i t . . . Ms. Cook, you’ r e6

abl e t o come up. Go ahead, pl ease.7

MS. COOK: May my cl i ent al so come?8

THE COURT: Yeah.9

MR. KOMATSU: Sur e. Basi cal l y wi t h r egards t o10

t he dat e I ’ m r ef er r i ng t o t hi s i nf or mat i on r i ght her e,11

Oct ober 12t h, 8: 08. And so t hi s, t hi s i s t he r adi at or .12

Let me see i f I can make t hi s bi gger .13

THE COURT: Can you make t hat bi gger , or i s t ha14

j ust goi ng t o st ay t hat way now?15

MR. KOMATSU: Let me j ust cl ose i t and t r y. . .16

okay.17

THE COURT: A l i t t l e bet t er , al l r i ght , go18

ahead.19

MR. KOMATSU: Um, l et ’ s t r y t o make i t bi gger .20

Let ’ s pl ay t hi s. So, t hi s i s my ki t chen, I ’ ve got . . .21

t hat ’ s t he audi o r ecor der t her e, a separ at e audi o22

r ecor di ng devi ce, and l et me see i f . . . [ HI SSI NG SOUND]23

MS. COOK: So, you’ ve j ust t ur ned i t up sever al24

not ches.25




MR. KOMATSU: No, t hat ’ s t he normal vol ume on my1

l apt op. I t was down ear l i er . [ PAUSE] Thi s i s a r adi at or2

i n my ki t chen t hat an i nspect or f r om HPD i ssued a3

vi ol at i on f or , or agai nst , af t er . . . i t was pr oduci ng noi s4

l evel s at about 80 deci bel s.5



MR. KOMATSU: I have a si mi l ar r ecordi ng f r om8

when t he HPD i nspect or was t her e.9

MR. PAPAMI CHAEL: [ OFF- MI C, I NAUDI BLE] [It10

sounds like an air bubble??]11

MS. COOK: [ OFF- MI C, I NAUDI BLE] [There’s not12

going to be a violation for an air bubble??]13

MR. KOMATSU: So, t hi s i s an audi o r ecor di ng14

devi ce, al l t hat I had i n my hand, as you can see. I t wa15

al so r ecor di ng. Ther e’ s car pet i ng on t he f l oor s. Um. . . 16

bel i eve I ’ m i n t he l i vi ng r oom r i ght now. . . but anyway so17

t hat conf i r ms t he f act t hat t her e was noi se t hat can be18

hear d f r om t he r adi at or i n my ki t chen, t hat was di sr upt i v19

t o my abi l i t y t o r el ax and st udy i n my apart ment .20

THE COURT: Any ot her t apes?21

MR. KOMATSU: Oh yeah, pl ent y. Um. . . l et ’ s see22

what t hi s i s. Okay, so when I ment i oned a devi ce t hat ’ s23

used t o measur e noi se l evel s [ 3: 53: 53] t hi s i s. . . t hi s i s24

a devi ce that was shown to t he HP. . . HPD i nspect or whi l e25




he was i n my apar t ment .1

THE COURT: I s t here a vi deo of t hi s?2

MR. KOMATSU: Let me see. . . wel l , l et me see3

what t he dat e i s, f i r st . So t hi s i s sayi ng t hat t hi s was4

cr eated on. . . cr eat ed Sunday, Oct ober 19t h, 2014 at 9: 275

PM, and. . .6

( UNKNOWN PARTY) : Di d you say Sunday?7


( UNKNOWN PARTY) : Di d you say Sunday?9

MR. KOMATSU: Sunday, Oct ober 19t h at 9: 27 PM.10

THE COURT: Okay. Next one.11

MR. KOMATSU: [ OFF- MI C] Okay, um, t hi s one. . . so12

here you go. [ HI SSI NG SOUNDS] I t ’ s even l ouder now. I13

di dn’ t t ouch t he vol ume cont r ol s on my l apt op.14

[ I NAUDI BLE BACKGROUND CONVERSATI ON]15

THE COURT: And what r oom i s t hat ?16

MR. KOMATSU: That ’ s i n t he ki t chen.17

THE COURT: Ki t chen t oo?18

( UNKNOWN PARTY) : There’ s one r adi at or i n t he19

ki t chen, not t wo.20

MR. KOMATSU: Yeah, I ’ m sayi ng. . .21

MS. COOK: [ OVERLAP]22

THE COURT: I sai d ki t chen, t oo, meani ng t he23

f i r st t ape was ki t chen, and t hi s t ape was ki t chen.24

MS. COOK: Al so i n t he ki t chen. [ LAUGH]25




MR. KOMATSU: Al so, as you can see i n t he vi deo1

i n t erms of t hi s . . .2

THE COURT: Hol d on. . . hol d on a second.3

MR. KOMATSU: Okay.4

THE COURT: Go ahead.5

MR. KOMATSU: So as you can see i n t hi s vi deo,6

t he way t hat t hi s measur ement i s bei ng r ecordi ng i s what ’7

known as a Cl ass A r at i ng f or t he sound l evel met er8

devi ce. . .9

MS. COOK: Your Honor , I have t o obj ect t o10

any. . .11


MS. COOK: Thanks.13

THE COURT: We’ l l di scuss t he. . . t he devi ce i n 14

second, Mr . Komat su.15

[ HI SSI NG SOUND ENDS]16

MR. KOMATSU: Okay, so. . .17

THE COURT: So, j ust out of cur i osi t y, Mr .18

Komat su, t he devi ce you’ r e r ef er r i ng t o, di d you br i ng i t19

wi t h you t oday?20

MR. KOMATSU: No, I di d not .21

THE COURT: Okay, and where di d you pur chase i t22

How di d you obt ai n i t ?23

MR. KOMATSU: Radi o Shack. Radi o Shack.24

MS. COOK: And what ’ s i t cal l ed?25




MS. COOK: Let me ask you t hough, Mr . Komat su,1

t hose t hi ngs t hat you j ust came. . . t hat j ust came up on2

t he scr een, t her e was a l i ne f or cr eat ed, and t her e’ s a3

date and t i me, and then t he next l i ne was modi f i ed, and4

t here was a dat e and t i me.5

MR. KOMATSU: That ’ s j ust somet hi ng t o r ename6

t he f i l ename, not t o edi t i n any ot her way.7

MS. COOK: I s i t possi bl e t o edi t any of t hese8

t apes once t hey’ ve been made?9

MR. KOMATSU: I t ’ s possi bl e, but I have not don10

so. Except f or s i mpl y r enami ng t he name of t he f i l e.11

Um. . . Okay, so. . . [ OFF- MI C, I NAUDI BLE] Okay, I t hi nk t hi12

i s i t . . . [ PAUSE] Um. . . [ OFF- MI C, I NAUDI BLE] So t hi s i s13

bef or e he came t o my apar t ment . . .14

THE COURT: I t ’ s al r eady t al ki ng, l et hi m. . .15

[ OFF- MI C] [ 3: 58: 53] [ RECORDI NG VERY FAI NT: ]16

MR. PAPAMICHAEL: [ON RECORDING] [INAUDIBLE17

I’m here with Carlos to blow the situation18

[INAUDIBLE]. Okay, you said you’d direct us which19

part of the floor you’re talking about?20

MR. KOMATSU: [ON RECORDING] What, which21

issue, squeaking floors or banging pipes? [PAUSE]22

[INAUDIBLE CONVERSATION, SQUEAKING SOUNDS]23

MR. PAPAMICHAEL: [ON RECORDING] That’s it?24

That’s the area?25




MR. KOMATSU: [ON RECORDING] That’s just on1

area [INAUDIBLE]. [PAUSE] This is the worst area.2

[SQUEAKING SOUNDS] Also over here. [INAUDIBLE] [MORE3

SQUEAKING SOUNDS] My girlfriend’s here, I wake up4

early in the morning, I leave for work, she’s a ligh5

sleeper, and she’s told me before she gets headaches6

migraines, if she hears this kind of stuff.7

MR. PAPAMICHAEL: [ON RECORDING] Who’s that8

MR. KOMATSU: [ON RECORDING] My girlfriend,9

if I have her over. [CONTINUED SQUEAKING SOUNDS10

THROUGHOUT]11

MR. PAPAMICHAEL: [ON RECORDING] So your12

girlfriends gets migraines--13

MR. KOMATSU: [ON RECORDING] She... if she14

hears that kind of noise, she gets headaches.15

MR. PAPAMICHAEL: [ON RECORDING] If she16

hears--17

MR. KOMATSU: [ON RECORDING] If she heard18

that, right just a second ago?19

MR. PAPAMICHAEL: [ON RECORDING] Yeah.20

MR. KOMATSU: [ON RECORDING] You know, I wa21

talking about banging pipes? What do you think abou22

that? The noise that you just... that you just23

heard. That he heard, too.24

MR. PAPAMICHAEL: [ON RECORDING] Did you25




hear it?1

[INAUDIBLE EXCHANGE ON RECORDING,2

OVERLAPPING WITH COURTROOM CONVERSATION]3

MR. PAPAMICHAEL: [ON RECORDING] Do you hav4

any idea which side the noise is coming from?5

MS. COOK: Oh wai t . . . but i s ther e j ust6

somethi ng other t han t he f l oor boar d?7

[ I NAUDI BLE OFF- MI C COMMENTS]8

MR. KOMATSU: I can pl ay i t back.9

THE COURT: Pl ay i t back.10

MR. KOMATSU: Let me see i f I can f i nd i t .11

[ I NAUDI BLE OFF- MI C COMMENTS]12

MR. KOMATSU: I t was about 148. I ’ m sor r y, I ’ m13

t r yi ng t o f i nd i t . ( OVERLAP WI TH RECORDI NG I N BACKGROUND14

Her e.15

16

MR. KOMATSU: [ON RECORDING] I was talking17

about banging pipes. I leave for work, she’s a ligh18

sleeper, and she’s told me before she gets headaches19

migraines, if she hears kind of stuff.20

MR. PAPAMICHAEL: [ON RECORDING] Who’s that21

MR. KOMATSU: [ON RECORDING] My girlfriend,22

if I have her over. [CONTINUED SQUEAKING SOUNDS23

THROUGHOUT]24

MS. COOK: Now, t hat was t he f l oorboards, was25




t hat , r i ght ?1

MR. KOMATSU: Wel l , here, t he pi pes are goi ng t2

come. [ PAUSE]3

4

MR. PAPAMICHAEL: [ON RECORDING] So your5

girlfriends gets migraines--6

MR. KOMATSU: [ON RECORDING] She... if she7

hears that kind of noise, she gets headaches.8

MR. PAPAMICHAEL: [ON RECORDING] If she9

hears--10

MR. KOMATSU: [ON RECORDING] If she heard11

that, right just a second ago?12

MR. PAPAMICHAEL: [ON RECORDING] Yeah.13

MR. KOMATSU: [ON RECORDING] You know, I wa14

talking about banging pipes? What do you think abou15

that? The noise that you just... that you just16

heard. That he heard, too.17

MR. PAPAMICHAEL: [ON RECORDING] Did you18

hear it?19

MR. KOMATSU: Di d you hear t hat ?20

MS. COOK: I hear d- -21

MR. KOMATSU: I coul d pl ay i t back.22

MS. COOK: No, I hear d. . . I woul dn’ t . . . I23

woul dn’ t char act er i ze i t as you do, but I hear d a24

sound. Ri ght ? Boom. That was i t ? Okay.25




[ RECORDI NG CONTI NUES TO PLAY I N BACKGROUND1

MR. PAPAMICHAEL: [ON RECORDING] Do you hav2

any idea which side the noise is coming from?3

MR. KOMATSU: [ON RECORDING] It’s coming4

from this general area, and obviously I’m not using5

the plumbing, I’m sitting right here.6

MR. PAPAMICHAEL: [ON RECORDING] I’m7

saying... By the way, are you recording me? Are you8

recording me?9

MR. KOMATSU: [ON RECORDING] No, I’m10

recording the noises.11

MR. PAPAMICHAEL: [ON RECORDING] No, no, ar12

you recording me?13

MR. KOMATSU: [ON RECORDING] No, the noises14

in general. But yeah, I told you guys about this on15

August 5th, but we’re here today and this is16

[INAUDIBLE] and you previously said that Adolfo took17

care this.18


MR. KOMATSU: [ON RECORDING] Your firm20

previously said Adolfo fixed this condition.21

MR. PAPAMICHAEL: [ON RECORDING] In what22

sense--23

MR. KOMATSU: [ON RECORDING] In an e-mail, 24

got an e-mail --25




MR. PAPAMICHAEL: [ON RECORDING] In what1

sense you say Adolfo [INAUDIBLE] who said that Adolf2

took care of it?3

MR. KOMATSU: [ON RECORDING] I have to look4

at the e-mails again, but basically, I got an e-mail5

from your firm indicating that Adolfo had [INAUDIBLE6

issues and they were taken care of.7

MR. PAPAMICHAEL: [ON RECORDING] Most of th8

issues, yes.9

MR. KOMATSU: It didn’t say most of the10

issues in that e-mail.11

MR. PAPAMICHAEL: [INAUDIBLE]12

MS. COOK: Al l r i ght , i s ther e any f ur t her13

sounds t hat we’ r e goi ng to hear?14

[RECORDING CONTINUES TO PLAY IN BACKGROUND]15

MR. KOMATSU: Um. . . Yeah. He asked me. . . I16

pl ayed back a di f f er ent r ecor di ng f or hi m, and t hen he17

asked me t o r epl ay i t f r om an ear l i er day.18

[ RECORDI NG VERY FAI NT TO 4: 03: 53]19

MR. KOMATSU: [ON RECORDING] Basically20

there’s supposed to be insulation packing in the21

floor grooves, so if it’s not there, then [INAUDIBLE22

MR. PAPAMICHAEL: [ON RECORDING] Wait, wait23

I’m here in the bathroom, and he says the bathroom24

floor has cracked, tile floor. [PAUSE]25




MR. KOMATSU: [ON RECORDING] In the corner.1

[INAUDIBLE] You also [4:03:53] turn on the light.2

These are minor issues. The main this is there’s3

this pipe that’s waking me up at 2:00 in the morning4

And yeah, that is [INAUDIBLE] over there before.5

I’ve got the dripping and the... I don’t know what6

the hell is this, which is it all look greenish7

[INAUDIBLE].8

MR. PAPAMICHAEL: [ON RECORDING] That’s it,9

that’s the air pump of the--10

MR. KOMATSU: [ON RECORDING] But you can--11

MR. PAPAMICHAEL: [ON RECORDING] -- of the12

radiator pump.13

MR. KOMATSU: [ON RECORDING] Particularly14

when somebody moves in, you clean the place before15

they move in. You don’t leave something disgusting16

like that.17

[INAUDIBLE CONVERSATION]18

MR. PAPAMICHAEL: [ON RECORDING] This is19

just a... it’s an issue of [INAUDIBLE]... of the20

humidity that has built, time to time, and21

[INAUDIBLE]. I mean, there’s nothing we can do. We22

can change the air pump.23

MR. KOMATSU: [ON RECORDING] No, it’s not24

that. It’s a matter of cleaning. You take... you25




take a rag, apply some cleaning solution to it, and1

you wipe it down. I used to be on [INAUDIBLE], every2

morning we had it cleaned, thoroughly.3

MR. PAPAMICHAEL: [INAUDIBLE]4

MR. KOMATSU: [ON RECORDING] So you see, I’m5

recording this [INAUDIBLE].6

MR. PAPAMICHAEL: [ON RECORDING] When you7

say that you’re recording, you’re recording me now?8

MR. KOMATSU: [ON RECORDING] [INAUDIBLE] fo9

my purposes.10


MR. KOMATSU: [ON RECORDING] Just to prove12

I’m not, like, BS-ing you.13

MR. PAPAMICHAEL: [ON RECORDING] This is th14

[INAUDIBLE]?15

MR. KOMATSU: [ON RECORDING] I don’t pay16

much attention to it. [INAUDIBLE]17

MR. PAPAMICHAEL: [ON RECORDING][INAUDIBLE]18

[INAUDIBLE EXCHANGE, OFF-MIC TO 4:05:49]19

MS. COOK: I ’ m sor r y, you sai d you di dn’ t pay20

much at t ent i on t o t he cr ack i n t he f l oor ?21

MR. KOMATSU: To t hat ar ea i n t he f l oor .22

[ RECORDI NG CONTI NUES I N BACKGROUND]23

MR. KOMATSU: [ON RECORDING] Stand on the24

squeaking floors. [INAUDIBLE] in my last apartment--25




[ I NAUDI BLE I N- COURT CONVERSATI ON OVERLAPPI NG1

WI TH RECORDI NG PLAYI NG I N BACKGROUND]2

MR. KOMATSU: I t hi nk i t ’ s [ I NAUDI BLE] as wel l .3

[ I NAUDI BLE RESPONSE FROM UNKNOWN PARTY]4

MR. KOMATSU: [ON RECORDING] --somebody5

broke into my apartment and stole two thousand bucks6

worth of my stuff. Same thing with two other7

neighbors. So if I’m being asked to let somebody8

into my apartment while I’m not here, that’s not9

going to happen.10

MR. PAPAMICHAEL: [ON RECORDING] Yeah, but11

you understood, you understand the importance of12

short notice, why--13

MR. KOMATSU: [ON RECORDING] If it’s an, if14

it’s an emergency, yes. But this isn’t an emergency15

MR. PAPAMICHAEL: [ON RECORDING] It is16

emergency. When you have bedbugs issue, then it has17

to--18

MR. KOMATSU: [ON RECORDING] But we already19

had this discussion scheduled for today, so there wa20

no need for somebody to come in yesterday, if you21

were going to be here today, too.22

[ OVERLAPPI NG WI TH I NAUDI BLE CONVERSATI ON I23

COURTROOM]24

THE COURT: Sshh, I ’ m l i st eni ng t o t he25




conver sat i on.1

2

MR. KOMATSU: [ON RECORDING] Yeah, but I’m3

saying, why should I have to take a day off... a day4

off from my job...5

MR. PAPAMICHAEL: [ON RECORDING] Because yo6

need to understand the, the urgent and the importanc7

of it. The apartment that [INAUDIBLE] turned out to8

be over-infested to a large degree which happens to9

be on the same floor, right next to you.10

MR. KOMATSU: [ON RECORDING] But that’s a11

different apartment. I, not once did I [INAUDIBLE]12

to your firm--13

MR. PAPAMICHAEL: [ON RECORDING] I’m not14

saying that [INAUDIBLE] you don’t know if you have15

them or not.16

MR. KOMATSU: [ON RECORDING] I cleaned it.17

MR. PAPAMICHAEL: [ON RECORDING] Especially18

with the dogs [INAUDIBLE] supposed to have19

demonstration, that will determine if you have them20

or you don’t have them.21

MR. KOMATSU: [ON RECORDING] But think abou22

this. Like, if you know that you’re gonna have23

inspection 24 hours later, why would you agree to24

take a day off work to, you know... it doesn’t make25




any sense.1

MR. PAPAMICHAEL: [ON RECORDING] It’s a2

demonstration, simple as that. You know, when you3

deal with bedbugs, it’s such an important issue--4

MR. KOMATSU: [ON RECORDING] I understand5

that.6

MR. PAPAMICHAEL: [ON RECORDING] --to avoid7

the spreading.8

MR. KOMATSU: [ON RECORDING] What I’m9

saying... look, you don’t understand, it’s the10

timing. If you have two inspections within two days11

I mean, one inspection scheduled less than 24 hours12

later, then there’s no reason for that. [HISSING13

SOUND] I know I keep checking, but it’s not14

consistent. [FLUSHING SOUND] It doesn’t always15

happen. Basically, other people on other floors are16

using the plumbing while I’m trying to take a shower17

the water pressure changes. So right now there’s18

someone else using the plumbing, so you get multiple19

people using the plumbing at the same time for this20

to be an issue. [SOUND OF WATER RUNNING]21

MR. PAPAMICHAEL: [ON RECORDING] I think, in22

an older buildings, uh, time to time, when23

everybody’s using it, the one line at the same time,24

you’re gonna feel that.25




MR. KOMATSU: [ON RECORDING] I have been in1

older buildings [INAUDIBLE]2

MR. PAPAMICHAEL: [ON RECORDING] You were3

out there, investigating... [THUMPING NOISE IN4

BACKGROUND] we got a call from the District Attorney5

that the previous landlords, they complained6

[4:08:53] [OFF-MIC & THUMPING] you’re working some7

kind of a scam--8

MR. KOMATSU: [ON RECORDING] Can I get a9

copy of [INAUDIBLE]?10

MR. PAPAMICHAEL: [ON RECORDING] --to rip11

off the landlord--12

MR. KOMATSU: [ON RECORDING] Can I get a13

copy of the [INAUDIBLE] please?14

MR. PAPAMICHAEL: [ON RECORDING] I don’t15

have...16

MR. KOMATSU: [ON RECORDING] There is no17

[INAUDIBLE], is it because they might want to18

[INAUDIBLE] that statement. The reason I say that,19

in the last month, I had four judges rule in my favo20

against that same landlord, from the Supreme Court.21

MR. PAPAMICHAEL: [ON RECORDING] I don’t22

know which judge you’re talking about. I only know-23

MR. KOMATSU: [ON RECORDING] I can show you24

a copy of the... I beat them, in court.25




said that if I had had a gun and would shoot someone1

in the knees with it. I don’t have a gun. What if2

you make a false statement--3

MR. PAPAMICHAEL: [ON RECORDING] Sir, sir4

[INAUDIBLE]. I’ve got a stack of reports, up to5

here, about you.6

MR. KOMATSU: [ON RECORDING] I’ve got the7

audio [THUMPING] at 2:00, from noises at 2:00 o’clock8

in the morning, confirming that I’m being woken up by9

banging pipes. I got an e-mail from you saying that10

you were on vacation, that you were asking me, don’t11

I have a right to take vacation? Well, don’t I have12

a right to sleep at 2:00 o’clock in the morning13

without being woken up by banging pipes?14

MR. PAPAMICHAL: [ON RECORDING] And I offer15

you... I offer you a resolution and you... and you16

came up with...17

MR. KOMATSU: [ON RECORDING] You put... you18

put a notice on my door, in a public hallway, where19

anybody can see a notice about a private matter.20

MR. PAPAMICHAEL: [ON RECORDING] That’s how21

that’s how it usually, the court system works.22

MR. KOMATSU: You [INAUDIBLE]23

MR. PAPAMICHAEL: [ON RECORDING] The proces24

server, the process server has to serve you. I25




cannot tell them how to serve you.1

[THUMPING NOISE IN BACKGROUND THROUGHOUT]2

MR. KOMATSU: [ON RECORDING] Let me ask you3

a question. How many times have I put an e-mail4

between and me and your firm, and put it in that5

public hallway?6


It seems like [INAUDIBLE] I’m here to inspect, and8

I’m here to tell you, I... all my experience of bein9

a landlord--10

MR. KOMATSU: [ON RECORDING] Mm-hmm.11

MR. PAPAMICHAEL: [ON RECORDING] --I dealt12

with issues, but never in my experience have I had a13

tenant who immediately moved in and started harassin14

in the...15

MR. KOMATSU: [ON RECORDING] I do not16

harass.17

MR. PAPAMICHAEL: [ON RECORDING] Of course18

you do.19

MR. KOMATSU: [ON RECORDING] Look, I’ve got20

the audio...21

MR. PAPAMICHAEL: [ON RECORDING] you call22

the inspectors--23

MR. KOMATSU: [ON RECORDING] I have the24

audio...25




MR. PAPAMICHAEL: [ON RECORDING] And you1

call the inspectors on my building.2

MR. KOMATSU: [ON RECORDING] And they issue3

a violation.4

MR. PAPAMICHAEL: [ON RECORDING] Exactly.5

And, you [INAUDIBLE].6

MR. KOMATSU: [ON RECORDING] No. You put..7

you put that notice on my front door to embarrass me8

[OVERLAP]9

MR. PAPAMICHAEL: [ON RECORDING] No, no, no10

I have a witness here, I didn’t do that. The proces11

server--12

[OVERLAP]13

MR. KOMATSU: [ON RECORDING] Your firm14

said... your firm--15

MR. PAPAMICHAEL: [ON RECORDING] Call my16

lawyer, and she will expect you. I have no control17

over the process server. And you know that. I have18

been in court, and you check the system and--19

MR. KOMATSU: [ON RECORDING] No, I’m tellin20

you exactly what happened. That’s all I’m saying.21

There was a paper on my front door...22

[OVERLAP]23

[ ALL OF THE FOLLOWI NG CONVERSATI ON TAKES PLACE24

OVER THE RECORDI NG, WHI CH I S I NAUDI BLE THROUGHOUT]25




MS. COOK: Ar e t her e any f ur t her . . .1

MR. KOMATSU: I t ’ s comi ng up.2

MS. COOK: J udge, coul d we j ust - -3

MR. KOMATSU: Wel l , I can f ast f orward.4

MS. COOK: - - move t hi s al ong.5

THE COURT: At t hi s poi nt what ’ s t he di f f er ence6

Let i t pl ay out .7

MS. COURT: How l ong i s i t goi ng t o pl ay out ?8

MR. KOMATSU: Let me check t he t i me. Ther e’ s 19

more mi nut es i n my recordi ng.10

THE COURT: When does t he noi se occur , Mr .11

Komat su?12

MR. KOMATSU: Um. . . I can. . . l et me t r y t o f ast13

f or war d and t r y t o f i nd out .14

THE COURT: Thank you. I f you can. . .15

[ RECORDI NG CONTI NUES AS MR. KOMATSU FAST-16

FORWARDS THROUGH TAPE]17

MR. KOMATSU: I t hi nk t hi s i s comi ng.18

MS. COOK: No, wai t , i s t hi s st i l l Sept ember19

27t h?20

MR. KOMATSU: Thi s i s a pl ayback of t he ear l i er21

r ecor di ng.22

MS. COOK: I s i t st i l l dur i ng t hi s i nspecti on?23

MR. KOMATSU: Yes.24

MS. COOK: Mr . Papami chael i s st i l l i n your25




apar t ment ?1

MR. KOMATSU: Yeah.2

MR. KOMATSU: [ON RECORDING] So this shows 3

chart, basically when the noise spikes. And yeah, s4

I think, by 4:30 I was in New York, Manhattan5

yesterday. Takes usually about five minutes to load6

Um... But yeah, about my former landlords, first of7

all...8

MR. KOMATSU: Let me t r y t o. . . see i f I can f ast9

f or war d. . . [ RECORDI NG CONTI NUES AS MR. KOMATSU FAST-10

FORWARDS THE TAPE] ( HI SSI NG SOUND ON RECORDI NG) Okay.11

That ’ s t he pl ayback. Yeah, t hat ’ s an exampl e of12

[ I NAUDI BLE] .13

THE COURT: Rewi nd i t .14

MS. COOK: So now, t hi s i s not a noi se t hat ’ s15

occur r i ng? I t ’ s you- -16

MR. KOMATSU: I t ’ s a pl ayback. . .17

THE COURT: I t ’ s a t ape. . . i t ’ s t he pl ayback of18

a tape t o. . . [ I NAUDI BLE]19

20

[HISSING SOUND ON RECORDING, ON RECORDING]21

MR. KOMATSU: [ON RECORDING] You don’t think22

that’s loud?23

MR. PAPAMICHAEL: [ON RECORDING] I’m trying24

to hear what [INAUDIBLE]25




MR. KOMATSU: [ON RECORDING] It’s called a1

water [INAUDIBLE]... that type of condition. I can2

... and here’s a [4:13:53] [INAUDIBLE] same noise.3

MR. PAPAMICHAEL: [ON RECORDING] When you’r4

hearing that noise, you’re not using any of the5

[INAUDIBLE]?6

MR. KOMATSU: [ON RECORDING] No, like I7

said, yesterday [INAUDIBLE].8

MR. PAPAMICHAEL: [ON RECORDING] We better9

go from... I’m going to call a plumber and check...10

MR. KOMATSU: [ON RECORDING] But I’m saying11

there’s a trigger. There’s a cause and effect. If12

someone else is using [INAUDIBLE] I shouldn’t13

speculate. All I know is that I’m not using the14

plumbing when this is happening. And I told you guy15

about, well, your firm [INAUDIBLE]16

MR. PAPAMICHAEL: [ON RECORDING] You know17

there is a saying [LONG INAUDIBLE, OVERLAP WITH OFF-18

MIC BACKGROUND NOISE AND CONVERSATION IN COURTROOM]-19

THE COURT: I s t here another noi se t hat occurs20

on t hi s?21

MR. KOMATSU: I don’ t t hi nk dur i ng t hi s meet i ng22

THE COURT: So, t hen st op i t here. That ’ s i t .23

[ RECORDI NG I S TURNED OFF] So, t he f i r st t ape i s bei ng24

mar ked as Respondent ’ s A f or i dent i f i cat i on, t he second i25




Respondent ’ s B. The t hi r d, Sept ember 27t h i s Respondent ’ s1

C. Mr . Komat su, bet ween now and t hen, I need you t o make2

a CD- -3

MR. KOMATSU: Okay.4

THE COURT: - - of what ever audi o or vi deot apes5

you wi sh t he Cour t t o consi der . Not onl y do you make a C6

f or t he Cour t , you have t o make a CD f or Ms. Cook. The7

f i r st t hr ee i t ems on t he CD. . .8

MR. KOMATSU: Ther e ar e much mor e.9

THE COURT: Li st en t o what I ’ m sayi ng.10

MR. KOMATSU: I ’ m sor r y.11

THE COURT: The f i r st t hree i t ems have t o be A,12

B and C. Oct ober 12t h, Oct ober 19t h, and Sept ember 27t h.13

MR. KOMATSU: Can I get t hat i n wr i t i ng so I ca14

r emember i t ? Sorr y.15

THE COURT: 10/ 12, 10/ 19, 9/ 27, A, B, C. Okay?16

MR. KOMATSU: Thanks.17

THE COURT: What ever ot her t apes you want t o put18

on t her e, what ever ot her ones you wi sh, t her e’ s a. . .19

t her e’ s a poi nt of r edundancy. I ’ m not i ncl i ned t o si t20

her e and l i st en t o 50 t apes of . . .21


THE COURT: Bang. But t hree or f our each23

woul dn’ t be such a bad t hi ng, okay?24





THE COURT: You may cl ose i t up and st ep down. .1

MR. KOMATSU: When do I need t o. . .2

THE COURT: I ’ m goi ng t o t el l you once3

everybody’ s down. I n t erms of t he mo- [ PAUSE] The next4

cour t dat e wi l l be December 18t h.5

MR. KOMATSU: The same. . . same t i me? 9: 30?6

THE COURT: 9: 30.7

MS. COOK: Two weeks f r om t omor r ow.8

MR. KOMATSU: I n t hi s r oom?9

MS. COOK: [ OFF- MI C]10

THE COURT: I f you wi sh t o br i ng an Or der t o11

Show Cause, seeki ng r el i ef such as agai nst HPD, i t needs12

t o be made r et urnabl e on Oct ober 18t h, okay? Because13

t hat ’ s t he day ever ybody’ s gonna be here anyway.14


THE COURT: Okay? So you make t he mot i on16

r et ur nabl e on t he 18t h, and ever ybody al so wi l l come back17

t o cont i nue t r i al on t he 18t h. Bet ween now and t hen make18

t he t apes, or t he CDs, one f or Pet i t i oner , and one f or t h19

Cour t .20

MR. KOMATSU: Al so, wi t h r egards t o t he i ssue o21

t he subpoenas?22

THE COURT: Yes.23

MR. KOMATSU: Can I make anot her at t empt t o24

subpoena Mi ss, what ’ s her name, [ ??] Newi t t ?25




THE COURT: Mi ss who?1

MR. KOMATSU: The t enant t hat post ed t hose2

har assi ng si gns?3

THE COURT: I f you can make an ar gument as t o4

how. . . t her e ar e r ul es f or subpoenai ng a non- par t y5

wi t ness.6

MR. KOMATSU: Mm- hmm?7

THE COURT: I f you wi sh t o seek t o compl y wi t h8

t hose r ul es you may. I t hi nk you’ r e st i l l goi ng t o have 9

pr obl em showi ng rel evance to t hi s proceedi ng, but you’ r e10

ent i t l ed t o make what ever argument you wi sh t o make, and 11

may change my mi nd.12

MR. KOMATSU: And al so about t he vi deo f r om t he13

el evator s on November 23r d?14

THE COURT: Br i ng what ever subpoena you wi sh t o15

br i ng. Ms. Cook knows what t o do i f she t hi nks t hat i t ’ s16

not appr opr i at e. I ’ l l hear al l t he mot i on pr act i ce on t h17

same day t oo.18

MS. COOK: And, Your Honor , you’ l l put asi de t h19

whol e day f or us?20

THE COURT: I cannot guar ant ee t hat .21

MR. COOK: Wel l , t o t he. . .22

THE COURT: Her e. . . here. . . here’ s t he t hi ng.23

On t hat day I have a cont i nued t r i al , but I have j ust24

appoi nt ed a Guar di an ad l i t em f or t he Respondent i n t hat25




case, and t hey wi l l be meet i ng f or t he f i r st t i me on t hat1

day, t hr ough a Pol i sh i nt er pr et er . The odds- -2

MS. COOK: Ri ght .3

THE COURT: - - t hat t he GAL, even t hough he’ s4

been doi ng t hi s f or 25 year s wi l l be r eady f or t r i . . .5

cont i nued t r i al on t hat day ar e consi der ed t o be6

mi nuscul e.7

MS. COOK: And you’ l l gr ant hi m [ 4: 18: 53] any8

l eeway he mi ght need. [ LAUGH]9

THE COURT: And I ’ ve al r eady t ol d t he ot her si d10

I wi l l gr ant hi m what ever l eeway he’ s aski ng f or . But , i f11

by some mi r acl e he t urns t o me, or some compl et el y12

unf oreseeabl e t hi ng, he t ur ns t o me and goes, “Nah J udge,13

we’ r e r eady, l et ’ s pr oceed, ” t hen I wi l l j ump of f t hat14

br i dge when we get t o i t .15

MS. COOK: Ri ght .16

MR. KOMATSU: So, j ust t o r ei t er at e. . .17

THE COURT: My f eel i ng i s, t hat ’ s not goi ng t o18

happen.19

( UNI DENTI FI ED WOMAN) : Can I j ust t ake one20

second. . .21

THE COURT: Yeah.22

[ EXCHANGE BETWEEN COURT AND UNI DENTI FI ED WOMAN,23

NOT TRANSCRI BED. DOES NOT SEEM TO BE PART OF CASE.24

CONVERSATI ON CONTI NUES BETWEEN MR. KOMATSU & MS. COOK AT25




SAME TI ME AS OTHER UNRELATED DI SCUSSI ON]1

MS. COOK: Mr . Komatsu, whi l e t hey’ r e t al ki ng.2

Today i s t he 3r d. How about , I don’ t know, Tuesday and3

Wednesday? Of next week?4

MR. KOMATSU: For what ?5

MS. COOK: For access?6

MR. KOMATSU: Next week?7

MS. COOK: Yeah.8

MR. KOMATSU: Um. . . yeah.9

MS. COOK: Tuesday and Wednesday?10

MR. KOMATSU: What t i me?11

MR. PAPAMI CHAEL: Tuesday and Wednesday?12

MS. COOK: Yes, can Moses be t her e t hat day?13

MR. PAPAMI CHAEL: Yeah, I make sure. Ni ne t o14

f i ve.15

MS. COOK: Okay, f r om 9: 00 t o 5: 00. Al l r i ght ,16

so l et ’ s see, t hat ’ l l be, December 9t h and 10t h.17

MR. KOMATSU: They need t he ent i r e day?18

MS. COOK: I don’ t know. I don’ t know what . . .19

i t won’ t t ake t he ent i r e day t o do t he ai r val ve, f or20

sur e. I don’ t know what i t ’ s goi ng t o t ake t o do t he21

f l oor t i l es because I haven’ t per sonal l y seen t hem.22

MR. KOMATSU: I mean, can’ t t hey si mpl y. . .23

MS. COOK: I have no i dea what i t ’ s goi ng t o24

t ake t o do t he f l oor s. . .25




MR. KOMATSU: I mean my quest i on basi cal l y i s,1

can’ t somebody si mpl y come t here, make, do an i nspect i on,2

based on t hat i nspect i on, det ermi ne, you know, how much3

t i me t hey need, and t hen once t hey make t hat det ermi nat i o4

schedul e subsequent vi si t s t o, you know, l et me. . .5

MS. COOK: Look, do you want t o go over t o hi s6

apar t ment t hi s eveni ng? Ar e you goi ng back t here?7

MR. PAPAMI CHAEL: Pl ease, I can’ t cont r ol8

what . . . I have t o have [ I NAUDI BLE] , 9: 00 t o 5: 00 t o f i ni s9

i t .10

MS. COOK: I mean, we’ ve got a vi ol at i on, so11

i t ’ s not a quest i on of whet her or not i t ’ s [ I NAUDI BLE] - -12

MR. KOMATSU: I have ot her appoi nt ment s13

[ I NAUDI BLE] .14

MS. COOK: Okay, so, i f Tuesday and Wednesday15

i sn’ t good, how about Wednesday and Thursday? Thursday16

and Fr i day?17

MR. KOMATSU: Al l I ’ m aski ng i s, i s i t , l i ke,18

you know, i f i t ’ s gonna be on a Tuesday, i s i t r eal l y19

gonna t ake t hem 9: 00- 5: 00?20

MR. PAPAMI CHAEL: I t ’ s not gonna t ake t hat l ong21

but I have t o be pr ot ect ed, t hat i t ’ s gonna be done i n22

t hat t i me.23

MS. COOK: And t he wood f l oor , I have no i dea24

how l ong t hat may t ake.25




MR. KOMATSU: The r eason I ask, you know, i f I1

have t o t ake, uh, a weekday of f , I can’ t , you know, be i n2

t wo pl aces at t he same t i me, doi ng my j ob or what ever .3

MS. COOK: So, don’ t gi ve me a day when you hav4

anot her appoi nt ment . Tel l me a day when. . .5

MR. KOMATSU: You can’ t do t hi s on a Sat urday o6

Sunday?7

MS. COOK: No.8

MR. PAPAMI CHAEL: On Monday or Tuesday.9

MR. KOMATSU: What ’ s t he r eason f or t hat ?10

MS. COOK: Because i t ’ s got t o be done Monday11

t hr ough Fr i day. He’ s not goi ng t o pay Moses, you know,12

over t i me.13

MR. KOMATSU: So basi cal l y you’ r e sayi ng t hat I14

have t o l ose wages f r om my j ob, because he’ s choosi ng not15

t o pay somebody X amount of money?16

MS. COOK: I ’ m sayi ng t hat he’ s requi r ed t o17

have. . . t o do t hi s work between Monday and Fr i day 9: 00 t o18

5: 00.19

MR. KOMATSU: Okay, I ’ l l sue f or l ost wages,20

subsequent t o t hi s. . .21

MS. COOK: So t el l me what days you. . . you22

st ar t ed t hi s mor ni ng by sayi ng t hat I ’ l l gi ve you access,23

Monday t hr ough Fr i day.24





MS. COOK: So I ’ m aski ng you now, what days ar e1

good f or you?2

MR. KOMATSU: So, um. . . Tuesday [ OVERLAP]3

MS. COOK: I mean my suggest i on of Tuesday and4

Wednesday was [ I NAUDI BLE] - -5

MR. KOMATSU: [ OVERLAP] So Tuesday and Wednesday6

4: 00 o’ cl ock.7

MS. COOK: I t ’ s f i ne.8

MR. PAPAMI CHAEL: Tuesday- Wednesday? Okay.9

MS. COOK: I t ’ s t he 9t h and 10t h.10

MR. PAPAMI CHAEL: What ?11

MS. COOK: December 9t h and 10t h.12

MR. PAPAMI CHAEL: Ri ght .13

MR. KOMATSU: So 9: 00. . .14

[ OVERLAP]15

MS. COOK: What ?16

MR. PAPAMI CHAEL: The hour s.17

MR. KOMATSU: Huh?18

MR. PAPAMI CHAEL: I mean t he days. The hours i19

9: 00 t o 5: 00.20


MS. COOK: Yeah, 9: 00- 5: 00, on Tue. . . you know,22

i f t hey get t her e at 9: 00 o’ cl ock and t hey’ r e f i ni shed at23

1: 00, t hey’ r e not goi ng t o hang ar ound. . .24

MR. PAPAMI CHAEL: Exact l y, I ’ m not goi ng t o kee25




THE COURT: Yeah, no, no, I don’ t have a1

pr obl em wi t h any of t hat .2

MR. KOMATSU: Okay.3

THE COURT: Ther e’ s no r el evance t o t he sal ar y4

or anyt hi ng l i ke t hat t o t hi s case.5

MS. COOK: Ther e’ s no r el evance t o t he ent i r e6

document , Your Honor .7

THE COURT: Wel l , you know. . .8

MR. KOMATSU: I ’ d t ake except i on t o t hat .9

THE COURT: Wel l , she may be r i ght . I wi l l l oo10

at t he document , and I wi l l det er mi ne what r el evance i t11

has, and what wei ght i t shoul d be gi ven. But I ’ m not12

pr ecl udi ng you f r om maki ng t he of f er , and det er mi ni ng13

af t er you make t he of f er . You may say somet hi ng t hat14

makes me t hi nk i t i s rel evant , I don’ t know. We’ l l see.15

Okay.16

MR. KOMATSU: So, um. . . so wi t h r egards t o17

ever yt hi ng I need t o submi t , al l of t hat ’ s due by Decembe18

18t h, t he r ecor di ng. . .19

THE COURT: I n t er ms of t he r ecor di ngs, yes.20

J ust br i ng i t i n on t he 18t h.21

MR. KOMATSU: Okay, so I don’ t have t o gi ve i t22

t o her bef orehand?23

THE COURT: I f you can, t hat ’ d be great . ‘ Cause24

i t ’ l l speed- -25




MR. KOMATSU: Yeah.1

THE COURT: - - t hi ngs up, but f or me, you j ust2

have t o br i ng i t i n on t he 18t h, ‘ cause I won’ t be l ooki ng3

at i t bef or e t he 18t h, okay?4

MR. KOMATSU: Okay, cool . Thanks.5

MS. COOK: And i t ’ l l be on a CD so I coul d6

j ust . . .7

THE COURT: I t ’ l l be on a CD. . .8

MR. KOMATSU: Wel l , DVD, i t st ores more dat a. 9

mean t he f i l es ar e. . . t he f i l es ar e hu- . . . ar e massi ve.10

MS. COOK: I ’ m j ust t r yi ng t o t hi nk what I have11

t o br i ng t o pl ay i t on.12

THE COURT: What . . . what woul d we need t o pl ay13

t hat . . . ?14

MR. KOMATSU: J ust a. . . l i ke a CD- ROM. I coul d15

br i ng i t t o t he cour t . J ust a ext er nal CD- ROM dr i ve.16

THE COURT: Okay, wi l l i t pl ay on. . . i t ’ l l pl ay17

on a l apt op?18

MR. KOMATSU: You can connect i t t o. . . you can19

connect i t t o a USB Por t . Yeah.20

THE COURT: We’ l l see.21

MR. KOMATSU: Or I can j ust br i ng my l apt op and22

pl ay i t back. . .23

MS. COOK: Okay. Al l r i ght , so i f you gi ve me24

some. . .25




THE COURT: To be qui t e. . . t o be qui t e honest , 1

have ver y l i t t l e i dea as t o what Mr . Komat su’ s t al ki ng2

about r i ght now, so. . .3

MS. COOK: Yeah, no, but i f you’ r e gonna gi ve m4

somet hi ng i n advance, I can pl ay i t on my l apt op, you’ r e5

t el l i ng me.6

MR. KOMATSU: Yeah. . . yeah.7

MS. COOK: Okay t hat ’ s what I needed t o know.8

Thank you.9

THE COURT: See everybody on t he 18t h.10

[ CALLS NEXT CASE AT 4: 26: 14. NO TRANSCRI PTI ON11

TO END OF RECORDI NG AT 4: 26: 25]12

13

14

15

16

17

18

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I , Deni se Hi dal go of A+ Of f i ce On Cal l , I nc. ,

cer t i f y t hat t he f or egoi ng t r anscri pt of pr oceedi ngs i n

t he Ci vi l Cour t of t he St at e of New Yor k, Ci t y of New

Yor k, of TURNBURY VI LLAGE LLC v. KOMASU, I ndex # LT

75649/ 14, bef or e Hon. J OHN S. LANDSEN i n Room 201 on

December 3, 2014, was pr epared usi ng t he r equi r ed

t r anscr i pt i on equi pment and i s a t r ue and accur at e r ecor d

of t he pr oceedi ngs.

Si gnat ur e:

Agency Name A+ Of f i ce On Cal l , I nc.

Address: 336 East 87t h St r eet , #B1, New York, NY 10128

Dat e: J ul y 16, 2015

transcript of 12/3/14 court hearing with queens supervising housing judge john lansden

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