Aaron Shmulewitz, BBG Partner of the firm’s condo/coop practice, was recently quoted in The New York Times in an article by David Segal, titled “A Noise Dispute, a Co-op Board and the High Cost of Parrots“ (published on February 16, 2025).
The article details a prolonged legal dispute over noise complaints involving emotional support animals in a Manhattan co-op. Aaron Shmulewitz was quoted on the challenges co-op boards face when handling such cases, particularly the legal risks of denying accommodation requests. As Aaron stated in the article:
“Emotional support animals are the third rail of condo and co-op living. Literally, only bad things can come out of refusing a request for a reasonable accommodation in cases like this.”
This statement encapsulates the delicate balance that co-op boards must maintain when enforcing their bylaws while adhering to federal laws on housing and disability rights. For more information on these types of situations, feel free to contact your BBG attorney of record or contact us here.
