Well, it turns out parrots aren’t just good for squawking; they can also be your ticket to a $165,000 payday! Meril Lesser, a Manhattan resident with three feathered friends, just scored big after a legal showdown with her apartment board. The Rutherford, where Lesser’s noisy trio of Layla, Ginger, and Curtis lived, was none too pleased with the constant avian commotion.
After a relentless battle, Lesser is not only pocketing $165,000 in damages but also getting a cool $585,000 for her apartment, thanks to a consent decree dropped by federal prosecutors.
In 2015, neighbor Charlotte Kullen couldn’t handle the high-pitched opera from Lesser’s parrot ensemble. Kullen complained to the Daily News about nightmares featuring feathered fiends. However, New York City’s Department of Environmental Protection couldn’t find any proof that the birds were hosting a 24/7 concert.
Despite a clean noise report, Lesser’s psychiatrist confirmed the parrots were essential for her mental health. This wasn’t enough for the Rutherford board, which decided to kick Lesser out in May 2016. Lesser didn’t flinch; she moved out, sublet the apartment, and filed a federal fair housing complaint in 2018.
HUD found that Rutherford had likely trampled on Lesser’s fair housing rights, but instead of settling, the building’s management opted for a court showdown. That move led to the Department of Justice stepping in, resulting in what U.S. Attorney Damian Williams called the largest recovery ever for someone with disabilities denied their assistance animal rights.
It turns out that any animal can be your emotional support buddy. Federal law doesn’t care if your pet’s idea of training is chewing up the furniture or if you’re not physically disabled. Your emotional support animal doesn’t need to be a trained professional; it just needs to be your furry, scaly, or feathered friend.
So, if you’re a parrot owner facing eviction, take a note from Lesser: sometimes, squawking loudly enough can land you a very lucrative settlement.
