Thank you.
Yes, we had a pre conference and then a subsequent genuine hearing that was recorded onto a number of CDs by the ALJ. Being the Tenant's Association President, I was provided a full transcript of the hearing by our attorneys at UJ.
The tenants are asking if they are needed again; they are interested in being a part of this, so I have scheduled a day off of work to visit DHCR (and the court to try to intervene). I have texted our attorney for advice and hopefully she will have some thoughts on this as well.
I also have to return RS leases that the owner provided to the entire building. We must decline them, because they were not sent with the necessary RS riders and because the legal rents have not been established by the rent overcharge/ administration unit at DHCR.
Lots to do, and all around a full time job..(sighs)
We also received a letter from DHCR regarding the rent overcharges, because the owner sent them a communication and I must reply to that, too, within 21 days. I've already drafted the letters to DHCR and the lease letters to the landlord.
What we feel is that this case meets the prerequisite of fraud for Grimm, and the building's rent should be frozen at the rent it was when 6 units were first discovered 20 years ago. This may be a hard sell, but I feel multiple policy statements support just that interpretation of the Law.