In re Balducci

Summary

After marrying her partner of over seven years in January 2012 in a ceremony in Spring Valley, New York, Regina Hawkins-Balducci provided a copy of her marriage certificate to DSA Management requesting to have her wife added to the lease. In response to her request, a DSA Management representative berated the couple and emphasized that they would not recognize their marriage and her spouse would never be added to the lease.

Lambda Legal sent a letter to DSA Management, whose properties currently consist of over 5,000 residential units and 50 commercial units throughout New York City, upstate New York, New Jersey and Israel, on Regina’s behalf asserting that the refusal by DSA Management and Nicholas Place LLC to add Regina’s spouse to her rent-stabilized lease is in direct violation of the New York Marriage Equality Act, the New York Rent Stabilization Code and several provisions of New York State and City human rights laws.

History

• June 2012 Lambda Legal sent a letter on behalf of Ms. Hawkins-Balducci to DSA Management.
• August 2012 Victory! Lambda Legal announces that DSA Management and Nicholas Place LLC will comply with state and city law and add Hawkins-Balducci's wife to the lease.