---
title: Indigent Access To Justice Debated In Luxury Condo Appeal
description: By Claude M. Millman, with Russell A.S. Wirth New York Law Journal October 1, 2020 The New…
---

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# [Indigent Access To Justice Debated In Luxury Condo Appeal](https://kostelanetz.com/publications/indigent-access-to-justice-debated-in-luxury-condo-appeal)

 Written by [Kostelanetz LLP](https://kostelanetz.com/publications/author/kostelanetz-llp) | Oct 1, 2020

By [Claude M. Millman](https://www.kflaw.com/claude_m_millman), with [Russell A.S. Wirth](https://www.kflaw.com/russell_a_s_wirth)  
 New York Law Journal  
 October 1, 2020

The New York State Court of Appeals is poised to hear oral argument in a case about the financing of a luxury, residential tower on Sutton Place in Manhattan—but some not-for-profits are saying that the outcome could have broad implications for indigent debtors in need of access to the federal bankruptcy courts.

At first glance, the case, *Sutton 58 Assoc. LLC v. Pilevsky* (No. 2019-00028), seems to have little to do with equitable access to the courts, economic and racial justice, and the economic pain being unleashed by the COVID-19 pandemic. But Robert Smith, a former Court of Appeals judge, has argued on behalf of the *Sutton 58* defendants that a ruling for the plaintiff could make it harder for the poor to seek bankruptcy protection. Several not-for-profits that provide free legal services to the underserved are echoing that view. The court will hear the case on Oct. 15.

Click [here](https://www.law.com/newyorklawjournal/2020/10/01/indigent-access-to-justice-debated-in-luxury-condo-appeal/) to access the full article

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