In what may be one of the first decisions addressing a tenant’s move to seek relief under newly enacted, statewide pro-tenant rent reforms, a New York City judge has knocked down a tenant’s effort to revive—by pointing to a newly expanded statute of limitations—his previous affirmative defense of rent overcharge in an eviction action.

According to the lawyers for the landlord in the case, the ruling by city Civil/Housing Court Judge Frances Ortiz is significant—at least in relation to oft-raised rent-overcharge claims made in landlord-tenant disputes—because it provides “clarity” and “guidance” from a judge on the rent overcharge issue at a time when many tenants may seek to renew their fights.