NYC Landlord Sues Tenant Accused of Terrorizing Neighbors, Owing $88K in Rent

An Upper East Side landlord has filed a lawsuit against a tenant accused of creating a hostile living environment for multiple families and accumulating nearly $88,000 in unpaid rent. The suit, filed by Fetner Properties, owner of 85 East End Avenue, alleges that Anne Stockton, 72, has subjected upstairs neighbors to profanity, threats, and incessant noise, ultimately driving at least four families out of their apartments.

The current residents of the unit above Stockton's, Tara and Riad Abrahams and their three children, claim Stockton has repeatedly screamed "profanities, threats and derogatory racial comments" at them since they moved in in November 2025. The lawsuit states Stockton has also banged on her ceiling for hours and made at least 10 baseless police complaints against the family. The suit asserts that Stockton's behavior "has no other purpose than to drive [the family] out of their home," as she allegedly did with the three prior tenants of the unit.

Records show Stockton has resided in the luxury building since 1992. Her alleged harassment of tenants in the unit above her dates back to at least 2013. Jennifer Gaydos Stephan, a former tenant, described Stockton as a "disaster," recounting daily broom-banging on the ceiling and nasty notes. Stephan stated she and her family were forced to move out after two years due to the conditions. An email from Stephan's then-husband to the landlord in 2014 detailed Stockton cornering their children in an elevator and making threatening remarks.

Subsequent tenants also reported similar experiences. Mitch Jacaruso, who lived in the apartment starting in 2014, wrote in a 2017 email that Stockton had screamed at his children in the building's elevator, calling them "animals and horrible children." Mark Weiss, another former tenant, reported that Stockton's actions, including banging on the ceiling and confronting him, scared his children and made them afraid to be in the apartment. Weiss eventually moved out in 2024.

The Abrahams family, who moved in approximately a year before the suit was filed, reported Stockton greeting them with obscenities and calling the police multiple times in their first week. Emails included in the lawsuit claim Stockton's behavior occurred at all hours and was audible to children. Tara Abrahams stated in a court filing that Stockton "does not care that her foul-mouthed tirades are heard by our children. In fact, that is the very idea."

One incident cited involved Stockton calling the police on the Abrahams family during their daughter's 16th birthday celebration. Riad Abrahams stated in an email, also included in the suit, that Stockton "began yelling at us and repeatedly referring to our family as ‘animals.’"

The lawsuit claims Stockton's noise complaints were routinely found to be unsubstantiated by building staff. When confronted, Stockton reportedly told a building manager that "incredibly… the noise comes from her kitchen cabinet."

Following the suit's filing, a Manhattan judge issued a temporary restraining order against Stockton, prohibiting "making unreasonable noise.. assaulting, menacing, intimidating, or threatening behavior against the tenants, occupants and children" in the unit above hers. Fetner Properties is seeking at least $550,000 in damages and legal fees.

Financial records indicate Stockton has made rent payments sporadically since 2018, with no major payments since 2022, except for $24,000 from the state Emergency Rental Assistance Program. Despite this payment, her rental arrears remain close to $88,000, though Stockton disputes the amount.

"Our residents deserve nothing less than the utmost courtesy from their neighbors," a spokesperson for Fetner Properties stated. "Behavior such as yelling at or berating another resident is contrary to these values and will not be tolerated."