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Steven Warren Smollens
New York County Lawyers' Association
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Claimed Lawyer ProfileQ&A
Practice Areas
- Real Estate Law
- Commercial Real Estate, Condominiums, Land Use & Zoning, Residential Real Estate
- Landlord Tenant
- Evictions, Housing Discrimination, Rent Control, Tenants' Rights
Fees
- Free Consultation
Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
- New York
- New York State Office of Court Administration
- ID Number: 1564673
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- U.S. Supreme Court
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- US District Court, Eastern District
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- US District Court, Southern District
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Languages
- English: Spoken, Written
Professional Experience
- Member Civil Court Practice Section
- New York County Lawyers' Association
- Current
- Member Real Property Law Section; Incoming Co-Chairperson Landlord and Tenant Proceedings Committee effective February 2024
- NYSBA
- Current
- Co-Chairperson Civil Court Practice Section 2023-2026
- New York County Lawyers' Association
- - Current
- Co-Chairperson, Civil Court Practice Section, New York County Lawyers Association
- Correspondent
- New York County Landlord and Tenant Bar Association (NYCLTBA)
- - Current
- Private Practice of Law
- Law Office of Steven W. Smollens
- - Current
- Partner
- Law Office of Smollens Guralnick & Frazer
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- Partner
- Law Office Steven W Smollens
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- Manager Single Practice Law Office
- Law Office Steven W Smollens
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- Staff Attorney Legal Aid Society New York City Harlem Neighborhood Office
- The Legal Aid Society
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- Attorney Law Office of Steven W. Smollens 2000 - Present Partner Smollens Guralnick & Frazer 1990 - 2000 Partner Smollens & Guralnick 1984 - 1990 Attorney Steven W. Smollens 1982 - 1984
- United States Army (Reserve)
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- USAR (Reserve) Honorable Discharge 1972
Education
- Brooklyn Law School
- J.D.
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- City University of New York - City College
- B.A. | Political Science
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Awards
- CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION
- New York County Lawyers' Association
- Recognition of outstanding contribution to the Association's Continuing Legal education program
- CERTIFICATE
- NYSBA
- Co-Chairperson CLE Program Residential Landlord and Tenant Practice Update
- CERTIFICATE
- NYSBA
- Speaker Residential Landlord and Tenant Practice Update
Professional Associations
- New York State Bar # 1564673
- Member
- - Current
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Publications
Articles & Publications
- Advanced Issues in Cooperative and Condominium Law,New York County Lawyers' Association CLE Nonpayment Proceedings, Warranty of Habitability, Objectionable Conduct, Nuisance, Pets and Noise
- Jack Newton Lerner Lecture Series, NYCLA Nonpayment Proceedings, Bed Bugs, Warranty of Habitability
- New York County Lawyers' Association, CLE, Jack Newton Lerner Lecture Series Objectionable Conduct, Nuisance, Pets and Noise Nonpayment Proceedings, Warranty of Habitability
- New York County Lawyers' Association, CLE, Landlord and Tenant Practice: The Jack Newton Lerner Lecture Series Non-Payment Proceedings and the Warranty of Habitability
Speaking Engagements
- NEW YORK COUNTY LAWYERS ASSOCIATION, VARIOUS CLE PROGRAM, NEW YORK
- NYCLA
- 2007 CLE entitled Jack Newton Lerner Lecture Series Bed Bugs, Warranty of Habitability 2005 Jack Newton Lerner Lecture Series Warranty of Habitability and Non Payment Proceedings 2004 Jack Newton Lerner Lecture Series Objectionable Conduct, Nuisance, Pets and Noise 2004 Advanced Issues in Coop & Condo Law 2003 Jack Newton Lerner Lecture Series Techniques in Defending and Prosecuting a Non Payment Proceeding 2002 World Trade Center Owner and Tenant Forum in Commercial Tenant Issues
Websites & Blogs
- Website
- SmollensLawOffice
Legal Answers
354 Questions Answered
- Q. Can I dispose of my ex-roommate's left-behind belongings after 3 months?
- A: Dear Monroe Tenant
New York State is about the only State without a clear abandoned personal property law. Rather, New York prefers local courts and judges decide if liability exists for throwing away left behind personal property.
I suggest that you connect with a local lawyer. I suspect that three months is too little time to deem the property is abandoned.
Likely, you will need to go beyond text messaging. Certified mail with duplicate copies sent to you with certificates of mailing and to the former roommate help build a document record of the reasonableness of your efforts to get the property redeemed.
- Q. What can I do about noise from my landlord with no formal lease agreement in NY?
- A: Dear Deer Park Resident:
I doubt you have any leverage over your landlord's use and enjoyment of her home, but you do have over your own. You could find out if your landlord required a certificate of occupancy for your dwelling. If she does need a C of O and she does not have a C of O, your occupancy is illegal. The Town may issue a summons or a violation and impose a fine.
If there is a valid C of O, then you could tell your landlord to quit her noisy ways and stop paying rent. Of course, she could sue for an eviction--but at least until that happens, you are letting your rent money speak up for you.
And of course, you may play your strongest hand and move out. You are not tied ... Read More
- Q. How to legally evict a tenant refusing to leave and ensure property sale in NY?
- A: Dear Agent:
The Tenant hopes that you realize that this is not going to proceed without hiring a lawyer at least to start the Holdover Summary Proceeding in NYC Housing Court. The tenant knows that the Housing Court litigation could last up to one year. The tenant hopes that when the owner hires a lawyer the lawyer will convince the homeowner to give money to the tenant to leave rather than risk loss of time and possible sale of the house.
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