Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Eviction proceeding against 88-year-old Brooklynite on hold for now, court says
By
Chau Lam
Published Feb 10, 2023
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 .
Chau Lam/Gothamist
By
Chau Lam
Published Feb 10, 2023
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
An 88-year-old Brooklyn homeowner who says he is a victim of deed theft will have to wait until a little longer to find out whether the eviction case against him will be dismissed or proceed to trial.
On Friday, a Brooklyn Housing Court judge gave lawyers for Ray Cortez and the company that bought Cortez’s three-story townhouse near the Barclays Center until March 24 to submit their arguments in writing.
Ray Cortez Jr. said he and his father were relieved that they were given more time to persuade the judge to dismiss the eviction.
“We're still on pins and needles and not really knowing how this is going to end,” he told Gothamist Friday afternoon.
The judge will issue a ruling sometime after, but did not give specifics, according to Justin Jose Lim of the Legal Aid Society, which is representing Cortez in the eviction case.
Lawyers for the Long Island-based limited liability company that bought the property did not return a request for comment.
Cortez, who purchased the townhouse on the tree-lined street between Park Slope and Boerum Hill shortly after emigrating from Peru, has been living with the threat of eviction since 2015, when he says he first learned that he was no longer the property owner.
He and his first wife paid about $20,000 for the townhouse in 1969. It’s now worth upwards of $2 million.
According to Cortez and his lawyers, the former taxi driver who now suffers from dementia was duped into giving up ownership of his home by a man he met through a church friend.
Cortez’s son and attorneys argue that Wilson Calle took out mortgages against the property without Cortez’s knowledge, and that Cortez unknowingly signed over the deed.
Calle introduced Cortez to a Queens-based lawyer who drew up paperwork returning the deed ownership to Cortez, which was never filed, according to court records.
Both Calle and the Queens attorney, who has since been disbarred, served prison time for separate issues involving tax fraud and stealing money from clients.
Tagged
new york city
deed theft
housing
brooklyn
Chau Lam
Chau Lam was a reporter at Gothamist.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Mamdani names re-entry specialist as chair of Rikers oversight board
Christopher Watler will help the department that a federal monitor says remains in crisis.
By
Ryan Kost
Published Oct 6, 2026 at 3:52 p.m. ET
NYC weighs expanding upstate reservoir following drought
The Delaware River Basin Commission is evaluating options to increase water storage, including expanding a reservoir in New York City.
By
Rosemary Misdary
News
NYC weighs expanding upstate reservoir following drought
The Delaware River Basin Commission is evaluating options to increase water storage, including expanding a reservoir in New York City.
By
Rosemary Misdary
Legionella found in Staten Island building's water system after 2 positive cases
By
Catalina Gonella
Legal 'loophole' helps NY Gov. Kathy Hochul, Bruce Blakeman raise millions
By
Jon Campbell
Police identify 2 men wanted for stabbing an off-duty NYPD officer
By
Ben Feuerherd
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 .