Pelli v. Connors

May 27, 2004
Versions:7 A.D.3d 464
777 N.Y.S.2d 805
2004 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 7326

Order, Supreme Court, New York County (Barbara R. Kapnick, J.), entered on or about May 23, 2003, which, to the extent appealed from as limited by the briefs, granted that portion of defendants’ cross motion seeking to dismiss the complaint and held no party entitled to recover attorney fees, unanimously affirmed, with costs.

Plaintiff owner sought and was granted access to defendants’ loft for the purpose of making repairs, thus resolving the controversy between the parties. The history of this case includes applications before the Loft Board and the Board of Standards and Appeals, and two prior appeals (Matter of Pelli v New York City Loft Bd., 5 AD3d 268 [2004]; Matter of Byrne v Board of Stds. & Appeals of City of N.Y., 5 AD3d 261 [2004]). The mixed outcome of the litigation was not substantially favorable to either party, so plaintiff should not be entitled to the status of a prevailing party, for the purpose of recovering an attorney fee (see Walentas v Johnes, 257 AD2d 352, 354 [1999], lv dismissed 93 NY2d 958 [1999]). Concur—Tom, J.P., Ellerin, Williams and Marlow, JJ.