Seller returns deposit to co-op buyer who allegedly failed interview on purpose

The Manhattan State Supreme Court ruled that the seller of a unit in the co-op building at 812 Fifth Avenue had to return the deposit from a woman who purposely flunked the board interview, the New York Times reported. Demet Sabanci Cetindogan put down a $300,000 deposit to buy Harvey Schuyler’s $3 million unit in 2009, and was set to interview before the co-op board, which her broker, Roger Erickson of Sotheby’s International Realty, called “the most welcoming” he can remember. But the board rejected her after the interview, and Shuyler’s attorney presented emails that showed Cetindogan was concerned the building wouldn’t let her college-age daughter live in the building alone as reason for her to purposely lose the apartment. A judge said that was not ample proof of the buyer purposely sabotaging the interview, and ruled that Shulyer had to return the deposit with interest. Shulyer’s lawyer said his client would appeal the ruling. In 2010, Shuyler successfully sold the unit to another couple. [NYT]