On Thursday, a Brooklyn federal judge ruled against Jimmy McMillan‘s lawsuit that was seeking to stay his eviction from an East Village apartment. McMillan, the founder of the Rent Is Too Damn High movement, has been fighting since 2011 to keep his rent controlled residence after receiving an eviction notice.
McMillan claimed that his landlord, Lisco Holdings Inc., is simply trying to force him out so they can bring the buildings rent prices up to market rates. The landlord countered that claim by saying McMillan is violating the law because the Manhattan apartment isn’t his primary residence. They claimed he actually lives in Brooklyn, but the anti-rent raise advocate said that’s just his office.
Federal Judge John Gleeson said that the baroquely-mustachioed man had failed to prove he was the victim of discrimination and ruled that the $1.3 million lawsuit be thrown out. According to the New York Post, “Gleeson also stated that federal courts don’t have jurisdiction in landlord-tenant disputes.” So it seems the suit wasn’t even being presented in the right court room.
That strange twist was worthy of a man like McMillan who is always on a quixotic quest facing impossible odds.
(Photo: Wikipedia)
