On May 20, 2020, New York State Chief Administrative Judge Lawrence K. Marks, announced that starting on May 25, 2020, e-filing through the New York State electronic filing system — including the filing of new non-essential matters – will be restored in the five New York City counties, Nassau and Suffolk counties, as well as Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, UIster, and Westchester counties. The announcement can be found here: https://www.nycourts.gov/whatsnew/pdf/LKMarks-memo-May20.pdf
Until now, the Courts were only accepting the new filing of cases that were deemed “essential.” As of May 25, 2020, new non-essential matters can be commenced in the State Supreme Court. This will include lease and contract disputes, actions to enforce guaranties, RPAPL 881 access cases, non-possessory rent claims and other actions for monetary damages and injunctive relief. At the moment, Housing Court is not accepting the filing of new non-essential matters.
Please contact Belkin Burden Goldman, LLP as soon as possible if you are contemplating the commencement of a new action.