Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
When Your Broker Poos in Your Closet
By
Jen Chung
Published Sep 25, 2006
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Chung
Published Sep 25, 2006
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
We knew the NYC real estate market was crazy, but we didn't realize it was Satanic ritual crazy! Upset "Manhattan millionaire" Daniel Farash tells the Post that he listed his Upper West Side three-bedroom apartment at 310 West 79th Street with Warburg Realty in 2003. When Farash came home one weekend, the real estate agent holding the open house was naked and screaming, after apparently urinating on his beds, breaking various objects, arranging things to "look like a woman giving birth" - and pooping in a closet! And people, that is what your 4-6% is getting you.
Farash is now suing Warburg Realty, charging the incident resulted in him selling his $1.4 million apartment for $500,000 less than market value. He also says it's left him suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.
The broker was identified in court papers by her company as former real-estate agent Julie A. Johnson.
According to a deposition, the firm's president, Fred Peters, admitted the company knew she was mentally unstable, having discussed her anxiety and stress issues with one of her therapists. But Peters insists the company is not responsible for the damages.
Peters and the company attorney did not return calls for comment.
Interesting - if you have an open house, and the broker knocks over something, the broker is not responsible? We suppose most brokers would pay for damages - but the ones with Satanic and bodily function issues probably wouldn't. What we'd like to know is whether Warburg paid for cleaners. Farash has brought his sensational lawsuit to the Post because Warburg is being "uncooperative," which surprises us because you'd think the realty would want to keep this quiet.
And not that we know the details and highlights of Farash's old apartment, but in 2002, a 2-bedroom in the same building sold for $1.75 million.
Tagged
breaking
court
lawsuit
manhattan
naked
News: NYC
nyc
open house
people
real estate
Upper West
Upper West Side
west side
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Forest Hills Stadium can keep its concerts under deal with neighbors
Neighbors had complained of traffic and loud concerts for years.
By
Ryan Kost
Published Oct 22, 2026 at 2:49 p.m. ET
NYC Council to grill Mamdani officials on collapsed Hunts Point Produce Market deal
Council Speaker Julie Menin called the $650 million plan "mission critical."
By
Elizabeth Kim
News
NYC Council to grill Mamdani officials on collapsed Hunts Point Produce Market deal
Council Speaker Julie Menin called the $650 million plan "mission critical."
By
Elizabeth Kim
NYPD arrests 17-year-old in fatal Midtown subway platform shooting
By
Charles Lane
Ex-Adams aide accused of pocketing kickbacks from community program funds
By
Samantha Max
MTA to begin 6-year project to upgrade signal tech on A and C lines in Brooklyn and Queens
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .