The tenants of an Art Deco landmark in downtown Newark have been complaining about the building’s management, especially after unaddressed safety issues following a stabbing incident last year in the lobby of their building at 1180 Raymond Boulevard. Making matters worse, the leader of their tenant union is now facing eviction only 11 days after threatening legal action.
“They hired a lawyer and sent an eviction notice literally within days of me sending the litigation hold letter saying that my lease terminates today and that I have to move out of the apartment today,” Andy Dwyer said in a court appearance on March 31. “There’s no reason why I should have to spend the next six weeks worrying about whether I’m going to be put out and be homeless.”
Dwyer, a lawyer representing himself and the tenants in Superior Court, filed a motion last month for a preliminary injunction, which would have stayed the eviction order. But Superior Court Judge Jennifer Critchley denied the motion, stating that building management must file a verified eviction complaint with the court before a motion can be granted.
Dwyer, who has filed an appeal of that decision, claims that the state’s anti-reprisal statutes were created precisely for his circumstance because it could scare other tenants from coming forward.
“If they see that the person who’s an actual lawyer runs the risk of getting an eviction brought against them, none of these other tenants who are not lawyers will ever have the guts to stand up to the management of this building ever, ever again,” Dwyer said…