I am the respondent in my NYC Housing Court Case. I have never checked to see if the attorney representing my landlord (the petitioner) has filed a notice of appearance. I was sitting in court waiting for my trial to start. I have the head Housing Court judge for trial. The judge had other attorneys coming in to sign orders for them. I heard one attorney fighting with another attorney about the fact that he had not filed a notice of appearance.
Is it important to find out if your adversary's attorney has filed a notice of appearance. I did not see one when I looked through my case file. Would they have one on file at the court?
Would that have any bearing on my case if the landlord's attorney hasn't filed a notice of appearance for my specific case?
New York City Housing Court is like the wild west. 90% of tenants do not have representation. Lawyers do not play by the rules and it seems as though the judges don't make them unless you bring it up. You learn a lot just sitting out in the hall way and watching the coercion of tenants going on.
Landlords are harassing rent regulated tenants so they can get you out and charge market rate.