Success Village Co-op Lawsuit
By Barbara Heimlich
Editor
Sources:Â Daniel Tepfer, Connecticut Post; LinkedIn
A federal bankruptcy judge on Thursday heard arguments on whether to dismiss the bankruptcy filing by the management of Success Village.
Judge Julie Manning was asked by lawyers for the city of Bridgeport, the town of Stratford, United Illuminating Co. and Southern Connecticut Gas Co. to dismiss the September 6th filing by the co-op’s president Tyreke Bird, and lift the stay preventing a state judge from appointing a receiver to oversee the finances of the troubled co-op.
Judge Manning ruled that the case is to immediately go back before Superior Court Judge Dale Radcliffe, who appeared about to order that a receiver be appointed when a lawyer for the management of the co-op announced that they had filed bankruptcy, abruptly stopping the proceeding.
The judge reserved decision on a request by lawyers for the city of Bridgeport, the Town of Stratford and two utility companies to dismiss the bankruptcy filing, although she did say it appears the co-op’s management was “seeking refuge in a bankruptcy case.”
She ruled that the automatic stay for bankruptcy proceedings did not apply to the city and the town of Stratford because it would prevent them from enforcing their police and fire authority.
“It’s a federal judge so there’s not much to say about that,” Tyreke Bird said following the decision as he left the federal courthouse. He declined further comment.
“The town of Stratford and the city of Bridgeport are grateful for the court’s immediate ruling,” said Richard Buturla, the lawyer for the two municipalities. “We look forward to getting back before Judge Radcliffe and we are hopeful a receiver will be appointed.”
Attorney Mathew Beatman, who argued the case before the judge for the city of Bridgeport and Stratford, told her that both municipalities are very concerned about the complex’s finances. Court documents show that two years ago the co-op had a surplus, but now is $3 million in debt and has just $6,000 in the bank.
“There is a question of where the money has gone. There is money somewhere, we just don’t know what happened to it,” Beatman said.
Norwalk attorney Mark Kratter was hired Wednesday afternoon by Ty Bird to handle the bankruptcy case.
The following letter was sent out to residents of Success Village on August 12th by Ty Bird, President of Success Village Apartments, Inc.
Bird filed for bankruptcy on behalf of the 924-unit co-op complex that straddles the Bridgeport/Stratford line. The move came as the co-op’s management was being pressed by Superior Court Judge Dale Radcliffe to present a defense to lawsuits by the city of Bridgeport, Stratford and utilities seeking to have a receiver appointed for the co-op.
The bankruptcy filing halted the case, preventing Radcliffe from making a ruling.
State law says if residents still don’t have heat once heating season begins next month, then the city and the town will be responsible for relocating the more than 2,000 residents.
According to court testimony, the co-op owes $241,597 in back taxes to the town of Stratford and more than $2 million in delinquent taxes to Bridgeport.
Among the expenses the co-op’s management paid in 2023, according documents in court, was $923,000 in legal expenses, $422,000 in management fees and $289,000 in consulting expenses.
Documents also showed numerous withdrawals that were made from the co-op’s bank account at a bank branch on Boston Avenue on two days in February and one day in August.
Who is Ty Bird?
Ty Byrd is a real estate agent and principal at Aventana Real Estate in New York City. He has 26 years of experience in the real estate industry, and specializes in residential sales, rentals, commercial office and retail leasing, and property management. He is also the exclusive broker for over 40 buildings valued at more than half a billion dollars.
- He is a native of Queens, New York.
- He served in the United States Marine Corps after college.
- He is familiar with all five boroughs of New York City.
- He enjoys helping clients find their ideal home in New York City.Â
- He is President of Success Village Apartments, Inc.
- Mortgage Loan Officer at Keystone Bankers: listed as a leader in government commercial and residential lending.
- Graduate of West Virginia State University
- Lives in Stratford
Editors Note: A Google search for Keystone Bankers did not result in a website. A search of LinkedIn listed them as having 7 employees. Website address in LinkedIn did not result in information
Thanks for the great reporting