Real estate disputes rarely lead to the possibility of an arrest.
New York developer Meyer Chetrit’s battle with Yoel Goldman is a rare exception. Chetrit has been seeking to have Goldman arrested for failing to comply with a subpoena.
The judge is set to hear Chetrit’s argument for Goldman’s confinement on August 8th after Goldman failed, yet again, to hand over all of his documents to Chetrit in a lawsuit in New York Supreme Court.
The dispute goes back to 2019. Goldman signed a confession of judgment claiming he owed $19.3 million to Chetrit over a promissory note Chetrit provided to Goldman. Some of the debt was related to properties in Brooklyn.
Goldman paid off a portion of the debt, but stopped making quarterly payments. At the time, Goldman’s company, All Year Holdings, was battling foreclosures and lawsuits. Goldman was ultimately kicked out of the company by restructuring officers as the firm filed for bankruptcy protection.
In 2021, a judge awarded Chetrit a judgment of $8.1 million. But since then, Chetrit has had trouble collecting on that judgment. He can’t even get Goldman to hand over basic information about his real estate holdings.
In 2022, the judge had enough. Goldman was held in contempt of court for willfully neglecting to obey a subpoena order.
In his defense, Goldman said he was a husband and father of many children who had fallen on hard times. He also said he had grounds to vacate the confession of judgment.
“I have moved offices multiple times, lost my supporting employees and unable to locate many of the requested documents,” said Goldman, in a court filing.
Meanwhile, Goldman has been eying properties in Brooklyn and seeking to make a comeback, according to court filings and sources familiar with the matter.
But in 2024, Judge Reginald Boddie required Goldman, known to be a reclusive person, to physically appear in court.
At a court hearing earlier this year, Goldman showed up along with his new attorney.
Judge Boddie ordered Goldman to hand over operating agreements, share certificates related to properties tied to Goldman or his former company. This included 146 Skillman Avenue, 394 Gates Avenue, the William Vale Hotel, and 76 Lexington Avenue, among others. Goldman was also required to hand over documents related to All Year Holdings and All Year Management.
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Chetrit’s counsel alleges that Goldman turned over a fraction of what he was supposed to produce. Goldman also failed to appear in court at a July hearing.
Goldman’s attorney said his client was away for the July 4th holiday, but available by phone. The judge said Goldman has to hand over the remaining documents by the next hearing.
Goldman’s attorney and Chetrit’s attorney did not return a request to comment.