This issue is actually being taken to small claims court and not housing court, but I figured someone with legal insight might check this forum.
My two roommates and I moved into an apartment in Park Slope in September. Less than a week later there was a fire in our apartment and we lost a good deal of our possessions and also incurred other charges. The Brooklyn Fire Marshall determined it was a structural fire. The landlord collected insurance money. We wrote him and called him concerning our damaged property and money we spent on dry-cleaning, moving charges, etc. and he did not respond. We filed three separates cases in Brooklyn Small Claims Court (the total sought is around $7000).
I have talked to a few lawyers about our chances and they seemed confident that we would be reimbursed. Does anyone have any leads as to the legality of our claims?