Darryl M. Vernon
Partner
Mr. Vernon is a founding partner of the firm. He represents clients in both litigation and transactional aspects of real estate and commercial law, including cooperative and condominium law; rent regulation; representation of the disabled in housing, cooperatives and condominiums; representation of persons with companion animals as well as related animal law issues.
In the area of cooperative and condominium law, Mr. Vernon recently represented a disabled prospective purchaser in a successful challenge to a board’s discriminatory rejection of the purchaser. The doctrine that a board may not inquire into a person’s disability as part of the application process was successfully argued in the lower court and affirmed by the Appellate Division. The New York Law Journal article about the case can be found in our news section.
Mr. Vernon also represented Cyndi Lauper and David Thornton in their challenge against a rent-stabilized landlord involved in an unlawful scheme to raise rents at the landmark Upper West Side building known as the Apthorp. The firm prevailed in the New York Supreme Court, the Appellate Division First Department, and the Court of Appeals. The decision, which provides protection for rent-regulated tenants of all means throughout the city, was hailed by South Brooklyn Legal Services at their annual fundraiser.
For more than 25 years, Mr. Vernon has also represented the rights of companion animals in housing for co-op and condo unit owners and rent-regulated tenants, including the elderly and disabled. He has been a member of one of the first animal law committees that was formed at the New York City Bar Association, and has also chaired and been a speaker at various Continuing Legal Education courses in all of the above areas.
Admissions
1982, New York, U.S. Dist Court, for the Eastern and Southern Districts of NY, U.S.Ct. App., Second Circuit.
Education
Yeshiva University, J.D., 1981; Tufts University, B.A., 1978.
Memberships
Association of the Bar of the City of New York (Committee Member, Legal Issues Pertaining to Animals); New York State Bar Association (Animal Law Committee); American Bar Association; Board of Editors, New York Real Estate Law Reporter.
Selected Publications
- ABCNY CLE materials “The Laws Affecting Housing & Companion Animals,” December 2009
- “When Is a Settlement Binding?” New York Real Estate Law Reporter, June 2008
- “When Is a Settlement Not a Settlement?” New York Real Estate Law Reporter, December 2006
- “The Court of Appeals Limits Fraudulent Rent Registrations” (Part One of a Two-Part Article), New York Real Estate Law Reporter, November 2005
- “The Court of Appeals Limits Fraudulent Rent Registrations” (Part Two of a Two-Part Article), New York Real Estate Law Reporter, December 2005
- “Companion Animals in NYC Apartments”, New York City Bar, December 1997 with online updates
- “The Hottest Dish in Real Estate: Satellite TV and the Telecommunications Act of 1996,” New York Real Estate Law Reporter, May 2003
- ABCNY CLE book “Pet Based Evictions and the Rights of Animals in Housing” March 2002
- “Figuring Fees in Warranty Habitability Cases,” Yoram Silagy and Darryl M. Vernon, New York Real Estate Law Reporter, December 1991
- “When a Sponsor Defaults, Is It Real or Personal?” Jonathan Weinberger and Darryl M. Vernon, New York Real Estate Law Reporter, January 1991
- “How the Courts Interpret the Pet Law,” New York Real Estate Reporter, June 1989
