A quiet Upper East Side walk-up has turned into the setting for an ugly legal fight, as the owners of a small apartment building sue a tenant they say terrorized neighbors and staff with months of harassment, threats and inflammatory social-media posts. The owners are asking a court for money damages and for relief that would clear the way for them to pursue the tenant's eviction in Housing Court.
Suit Describes Months Of Tirades, Threats And Hate-Filled Posts
In a complaint described by the New York Post, the owners identify the tenant as Layla Al-Marzooqi and accuse her of repeatedly screaming inside her apartment for hours at a time, spewing obscenities in the hallway and unleashing verbal abuse at the building superintendent and people passing by.
The filing also claims she posted racist and homophobic comments and artwork on Facebook, including an image that paired a swastika with a Star of David set against an American flag. According to the complaint, she placed a sign on her apartment door that read, "death to you beyond below around above this apartment space." The owners say that the behavior scared off prospective renters and led some existing tenants to ask out of their leases, according to the New York Post.
Five-Story Walk-Up At Center Of The Dispute
The battle is playing out at a five-story, 10-unit walk-up at 436 E. 77th Street on the Upper East Side. Filings list the building under East 77 Owners Co., L.L.C. State records identify that entity as the owner and show that the address has surfaced in earlier litigation as well, according to New York State court records.
Landlord Says Behavior Escalated, Lease Now Terminated
Management, named in the complaint as Eric Goodman Realty, told reporters it moved Al-Marzooqi into a one-bedroom in November 2024 after she initially rented in the building, and that rent for the upgraded unit started at roughly $3,000 a month. The owners allege that her conduct escalated in April and say they terminated her lease effective May 14, 2026. The lawsuit seeks more than $1.5 million in damages and states that the owners plan to bring an eviction case in Housing Court. Matthew Goodman, a manager, said her behavior took a sudden turn in April, according to the New York Post.
What Could Happen In Housing Court
To recover the apartment and pursue money damages, owners can file a holdover case or a harassment proceeding in the Civil Court's Housing Part. Harassment is a specific case category on the Housing Court calendar. The New York City Housing Court outlines procedures, help centers and standardized forms for both landlords and tenants, and cases can be steered to conferences, mediation or trial depending on the circumstances.
Where Tenants And Neighbors Can Turn For Help
New Yorkers facing eviction or harassment claims may qualify for free legal representation through the city's Right-to-Counsel program, and Housing Court help centers can connect people with lawyers and step-by-step guidance. The city's Human Resources Administration details legal-services options and tenant resources on its website, according to NYC HRA. Neighbors who feel threatened are advised to contact the police and hold on to any recordings, messages or other evidence that could document concerning behavior.
