Cohen v. Abruzzo, 2024 NY Slip Op 03163 (2024)

In May 2020, the plaintiff, as tenant, and the defendants Anthony Abruzzo and Grace Abruzzo (hereinafter together the Abruzzos), as landlords, entered into a lease agreement with regard to a residential home in Wading River. The term was for a period of two months, July and August 2020. Pursuant to the lease agreement, the plaintiff was required to pay the Abruzzos a $20,000 security deposit. Shortly after the commencement of the tenancy, the plaintiff advised the Abruzzos, through counsel, that he wished to vacate the premises before the end of the lease term. The Abruzzos agreed to permit the plaintiff to prematurely terminate the lease agreement, and the plaintiff then vacated the premises on July 24, 2020. The Abruzzos thereafter asserted that the plaintiff had caused damages to the premises. On August 13, 2020, Anthony emailed a list of itemized damages totaling $4,561.48 to the plaintiff and his attorney, along with supporting documents.