Q&A
Discussion on reasonable period for requesting remote hearings
2:24:39
ยท
84 sec
Council Member Feliz inquires about a reasonable period for requesting remote hearings. The attorneys from the NYC Hospitality Alliance explain the current challenges with the system and argue for same-day access to remote hearings.
- Current system requires scheduling 3-7 days in advance, leading to increased defaults
- Attorneys suggest allowing day-of login for remote hearings, similar to pre-COVID procedures
- Language barriers and confusion about summons dates contribute to the problem, especially for outer borough businesses
Oswald Feliz
2:24:39
So what do you think would be the reasonable period for asking for that remote hearing?
Max Bookman
2:24:43
There needs to be it needs to be day of.
2:24:45
That's how it was before COVID.
2:24:46
There needs to be a way, and there's there's technology that allows this.
2:24:48
This is not complicated technology to be able to log in to your remote hearing on the day of the hearing.
2:24:53
If it's printed on the summons that, you know, February 1st is the date of your remote hearing, you need to be able to, on February 1st, be able to log in and have your hearing, not have to call 3 to you know, no no fewer than 7 days, but more no less than 3 days in advance.
2:25:06
It's just not worth it.
Robert Bookman
2:25:07
A PIN and, and you get then you have to you if you forget your PIN, you default it there.
2:25:11
I mean, it's we're lawyers representing people, and it's a nightmare.
2:25:14
Yeah.
2:25:14
And we have clients come to us the day before saying, I'm sorry it took so long, mister Booker, and I got this hearing tomorrow.
2:25:20
Could you come to me with oath?
2:25:21
And we say, it's too late.
2:25:23
We had a 3 days ago request a PIN, and now, you know, and now it's a default.
2:25:27
And now you gotta wait till you get to default, and then you gotta make a motion to set aside the default.
2:25:32
And if you know how to all do that, just to get just to go around all again.
2:25:35
So it's causing
Max Bookman
2:25:37
In outer borough business, we actually see it the most talk about Fordham Road.
2:25:39
I mean, we have a lot of clients who, we represent on Fordham Road, small businesses, sidewalk newsstands, things like that.
2:25:45
And, you know, a, the language is a barrier even though the summonses have something in the bottom that says you can call a number to, you know, to to get it translated.
2:25:53
You know, what they see is they see a summons, they see a date, and they figure, okay, that's the date I have to deal with this.
2:25:58
And and it's so it's again, it's a it's a small thing.
2:26:00
It's deep in the weeds, but it really, really makes a difference.
2:26:04
Yeah.
Robert Bookman
2:26:04
And let me answer your question about fines from from the other panel, if you don't mind.