Docket No.:  EA 410019 RO
                                  STATE OF NEW YORK
                      DIVISION OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY RENEWAL
                            OFFICE OF RENT ADMINISTRATION
                                     GERTZ PLAZA
                               92-31 UNION HALL STREET
                               JAMAICA, NEW YORK 11433

          ----------------------------------X 
          IN THE MATTER OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE    ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW
          APPEAL OF                              DOCKET NO.: EA 410019-RO 
                                                
             MILBROOK ASSOCIATES, LTD.,          DRO DOCKET NOS.:
                                                 U 3124237-R/ DC 410018-RP
                                                  
                                PETITIONER       TENANT: Adalberto Rodriguez
          ----------------------------------X                           
            
                ORDER AND OPINION REVOKING COMMISSIONER'S PRIOR ORDER
                            AND OPINION AFTER COURT REMIT

          This proceeding was originally commenced by the filing of  a  rent
          overcharge   complaint   by   the   tenant   concerning    housing
          accommodations known as Apartment C2 at 9747 Shore Road, Brooklyn, 
          New  York.   The  tenant  took  occupancy  pursuant  to  a   lease
          commencing June 15, 1982 and expiring June 30, 1983 at  a  monthly
          rent  of  $450.00.   The  tenant  also  asserted  that  the  owner
          collected an illegal broker's fee from the tenant.

          By order issued August 11, 1986, the  Administrator  directed  the
          owner to refund the brokerage fee to the tenant.

          The tenant filed a  petition  for  administrative  review  of  the
          Administrator's order (Docket Number AI 510010-RT) asserting  that
          the Administrator had completely failed to  address  the  tenant's
          overcharge complaint.

          By order and opinion issued January  30,  1989,  the  Commissioner
          remanded the proceeding to the Administrator for processing of the 
          tenant's overcharge complaint pursuant to Section 42A of the  Code
          based on the owner's failure to submit a complete  rental  history
          for the subject apartment.

          By order issued December 1, 1989, the Administrator determined the 
          lawful stabilized rent pursuant to Section 42A of the  Code  based
          on the owner's  failure  to  submit  a  complete  rental  history,
          established the lawful stabilized rent at $182.55 for  the  period
          from June 15, 1982 to June 30, 1988, and  directed  the  owner  to
          refund to the tenant overcharges of $58,733.88,  including  treble
          damages on overcharges occurring after April 1, 1984.

          The owner thereafter filed a petition for administrative review of 
          the Administrator's December 1, 1989  order  in  which  the  owner
          asserted,  among  other  things,  that   the   Administrator   had
          incorrectly applied the default procedure and that treble  damages
          should not have been imposed.






          Docket No.:  EA 410019 RO

          By order and opinion issued January 16,  1991,  the  Commissioner,
          among other  things,  affirmed  the  application  of  the  default
          procedure but found, based on equitable considerations,  that  the
          rent should be frozen and  treble  damages  imposed  only  through
          August 31, 1986, the end of the month following  issuance  of  the
          Administrator's initial order.  The total amount of overcharge was 
          found to be $41,712.72.

          Subsequent thereto, the owner filed a petition  in  Supreme  Court
          pursuant to Article  78  of  the  Civil  Practice  Law  and  Rules
          challenging the Commissioner's order.  The owner asserted  therein
          that  there  was  a  discrepancy  between  the  tenant's  original
          complaint of specific rent  overcharge  wherein  the  tenant  only
          complained of having been charged a broker's fee and  the  alleged
          photocopy of the complaint attached to the tenant's  petition  for
          administrative review (Docket Number AI 510010-RT) which  contains
          an additional complaint of general rent overcharge.

          On April 1, 1991, by order of Judge Ira Gammerman, the  proceeding
          was remitted to the DHCR for further processing.

          The owner thereafter commenced another Article  78  proceeding  in
          the nature of mandamus for a judgment directing  the  Division  to
          render a determination of the owner's administrative appeal.

          By notice to the tenant's attorney dated August 15,  1991,  resent
          to the tenant's attorney on September 20,  1991,  the  tenant  was
          afforded an opportunity to explain  the  discrepancy  between  his
          initial complaint and  the  alleged  photocopy  of  the  complaint
          attached to his petition for administrative  review.   The  tenant
          did not submit a response to this notice.

          After careful consideration, the Commissioner is  of  the  opinion
          that the Commissioner's prior order and opinion should be revoked.

          The record in this  case  indicates  that  the  tenant's  original
          complaint contained only a complaint of specific  rent  overcharge
          regarding a broker's fee,  while  the  alleged  photocopy  of  the
          complaint submitted with the tenant's petition for  administrative
          review contains additional statements indicating  a  complaint  of
          general rent overcharge.  The additional statements were that  the
          tenant had requested prior leases from the owner on June 15,  1982
          and that the previous tenant James F. Haughney was paying  $100.00
          per month.  The tenant has been afforded an opportunity to explain 
          the discrepancy in the complaint forms, but has failed to  do  so.
          The Commissioner  therefore  finds  that  the  tenant's  complaint
          should properly have been treated as a complaint of specific  rent
          overcharge regarding only the  broker's  fee,  rather  than  as  a
          complaint of general rent overcharge.

          The owner is directed to refund the broker's fee of $125.00 to the 
          tenant, if it has not already done so.  The  rent  adjustment  and
          overcharge award of $41,712.72 are revoked.






          Docket No.:  EA 410019 RO

          Any arrears owed by the tenant as a result of this  order  may  be
          paid by the tenant in equal monthly installments over  the  course
          of the next  12  months.   Should  the  tenant  vacate  after  the
          issuance of this order or have already vacated, all  arrears  will
          be payable immediately.

          THEREFORE, in accordance with the Rent Stabilization Law and Code, 
          it is

          ORDERED, that the Commissioner's prior order  and  opinion  issued
          January  16,  1991  be  and  the  same  hereby  is  revoked,   the
          Administrator's order issued December 1,  1989  be  and  the  same
          hereby is revoked, and the Administrator's order issued August 11, 
          1986, which directed refund of the $125.00 broker's  fee,  remains
          in effect.

          ISSUED:



                                                                        
                                          ELLIOT SANDER
                                          Deputy Commissioner


    

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