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`UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
`EASTERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
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`T-MOBILE NORTHEAST LLC, f/k/a Omnipoint
`Communications, Inc.,
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`Civil Action No. 1:21-cv-2722
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` Plaintiff,
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` -against-
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`COMPLAINT
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`USEIN SULJONIC, REMZIJA SULJONIC, SAL
`MURATOVIC, successor-in-interest to RIZO
`MURATOVIC, and BRAHIM MURATOVIC,
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`Defendants.
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`Plaintiff, T-Mobile Northeast LLC, f/k/a Omnipoint Communications, Inc. (“T-Mobile”),
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`by its attorneys Porzio, Bromberg & Newman, P.C., as and for its Complaint against Defendants
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`Usein Suljonic, Remzija Suljonic, Sal Muratovic, successor-in-interest to Rizo Muratovic, and
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`Brahim Muratovic (collectively "Landlord" or "Defendants"), alleges as follows:
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`INTRODUCTION
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`1.
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`This action concerns a rooftop lease between a real property owner and a
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`telecommunications company regarding. The dispute arises over the owners' refusal to let the
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`telecommunications company perform upgrades to its equipment at this site in Bayside, NY,
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`even though the lease allows it, to try and extract additional moneys.
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`2.
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`T-Mobile, as tenant, and Defendants, entered into a Rooftop Lease with Option
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`Agreement (the “Lease”) on property owned by Defendants located at 47-10 Laurel Hill Road,
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`Bayside, New York ("Property"). The Lease expressly permits T-Mobile to use parts of the
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`Property to install and maintain a wireless facility that consists of telecommunications
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`equipment, including radio transmitting and receiving antennas, equipment cabinets and related
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`cables and utility lines (collectively “Antenna Facilities”).
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`3.
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`The Antenna Facilities have been in use at the Property since 2009 as part of T-
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`Mobile’s expansive network of wireless communications equipment to serve T-Mobile
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`customers and provide mandated 911 services in the area.
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`4.
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`As the ever-changing technology requires frequent upgrades and enhancements to
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`such Antenna Facilities, T-Mobile expressly provided clear language in its Lease allowing it to
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`make upgrades and enhancements as needed. The Lease grants T-Mobile the right to “alter,
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`replace, expand, enhance and upgrade the Antenna Facilities” without condition.
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`5.
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`T-Mobile has repeatedly sought Landlord's permission to perform necessary
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`upgrades to its Antenna Facilities on the Property since mid-2019. The upgrades entail
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`replacement of the existing nine antennas and addition of three more, one at each of the three
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`existing sectors in the leased area on the roof. The replacement and additional antennas are all
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`slated to be installed behind an existing screen on the roof, resulting in no additional space taken
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`or interference with any other uses on the Property.
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`6.
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`The upgrades are needed to meet the ever-growing technological demands of
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`ubiquitous voice and data communications demanded by the consuming public. The upgrades,
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`routine in nature, will improve speed, quality, and continuity of wireless communications. This
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`includes telephone calls placed by T-Mobile's customers, law enforcement officials, and
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`emergency 911 personnel who use and benefit from T-Mobile’s Antenna Facilities.
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`7. Nationwide deployment of technologies to allow effective and faster wireless
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`communications is a critical mission of the federal government The Federal Communications
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`Commission, for example, has recognized this vital need, and requires that wireless networks of
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`which T-Mobile's Antenna Facilities are a part must service municipal emergency personnel and
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`allow the public to access 911-services in the event of an emergency.
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`8.
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`Despite federal policy, the importance of maintaining and upgrading wireless
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`antenna facilities, and the express Lease provisions at issue that unambiguously allow for
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`upgrades, Defendants have repeatedly denied T-Mobile the right to perform the needed upgrades
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`and enhancements. Rather, Landlord has unreasonably conditioned its consent on a new lease
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`that would require T-Mobile to pay Landlord substantially higher monthly rent than required
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`under the Lease.
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`9.
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`In denying access to T-Mobile for purposes of making its upgrades, Landlord is in
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`willful breach of the Lease's terms and Landlord's obligations thereunder. Accordingly, T-Mobile
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`requires a decree of specific performance and declaratory and injunctive relief enjoining
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`Landlord from denying T-Mobile the right to upgrade its Antenna Facilities, as specifically
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`provided for in the Lease.
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`PARTIES
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`10.
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`Plaintiff T-Mobile is a Delaware limited liability company, authorized to do
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`business in the State of New York.
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`11.
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`T-Mobile
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`is
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`in
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`the business of
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`leasing,
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`installing and/or maintaining
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`communications equipment necessary to provide cellular telephone service to the public. T-
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`Mobile is a wholly-owned subsidiary of T-Mobile USA, Inc., a provider of cellular
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`telecommunications services in the United States.
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`12.
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`Upon information and belief, Defendants are each citizens of the State of New
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`York and owners of the Property located in Bayside, New York.
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`13.
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`Upon information and belief, defendant Sal Muratovic is successor-in-interest to
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`Rizo Muratovic pursuant to the conveyance deed dated June 13, 2014 and distribution of the late
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`Rizo Muratovic's estate.
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`JURISDICTION AND VENUE
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`14.
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`Plaintiff T-Mobile Northeast, LLC, is a citizen of the State of Delaware and is
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`authorized to do business in New York. The sole member of T-Mobile Northeast, LLC, is T-
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`Mobile USA, Inc., a citizen of the State of Delaware with its principal place of business in
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`Bellevue, Washington.
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`15.
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`Upon information and belief, Defendants are each citizens of the State of New
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`York.
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`16.
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`The matter in controversy concerns a subject matter in excess of the sum of
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`$75,000, exclusive of interest and costs. T-Mobile's Lease rights are being impeded, interfered
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`with, and seriously compromised as a result of Defendants' conduct, which valuable rights were
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`bestowed upon T-Mobile in exchange for monthly payments made, and to be made, to Landlord,
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`that far exceed $75,000 over the course of the Lease term, including lease renewal terms through
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`2039. T-Mobile also generates substantial revenue from the use of the Antenna Facilities at issue
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`in excess of $75,000.
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`17.
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`This Court has subject matter jurisdiction over the instant matter pursuant to 28
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`U.S.C. §1332(a)(1) (diversity of citizenship).
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`18.
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`Venue is proper in the Eastern District of New York pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §1391
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`in that jurisdiction is founded solely on diversity of citizenship, a substantial part of the events or
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`omissions giving rise to the claim occurred in this judicial district (in Bayside), and the property
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`that is the subject of this action is situated in this judicial district (in Bayside).
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`LEASE TERMS
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`19.
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`On or about April 29, 2008, T-Mobile and Landlord entered into a Rooftop Lease
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`with Option Agreement that expressly grants T-Mobile the right to install, operate and maintain a
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`wireless communications facility on the roof of Landlord's building at 47-10 Laurel Hill Road,
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`Bayside, New York (i.e., the Property). (See Lease, a true copy of which is attached hereto as
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`Ex. A.)
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`20.
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`The Lease option was exercised in mid-March 2009, thereby commencing the
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`initial five-year term under the Lease through March 2014.
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`21.
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`The Lease provides that T-Mobile shall operate its Antenna Facilities for the
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`initial five-year term, plus five successive five-year renewal periods, potentially running, at T-
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`Mobile's option, through March 2039. (Lease, ¶¶ 2, 3). T-Mobile is currently in its second
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`renewal term, and pays Landlord monthly rent each month as required under the Lease (See
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`Lease, ¶ 4).
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`22.
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`T-Mobile has the unconditional right to install, maintain, and enhance its Antenna
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`Facilities:
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`7. Improvements: Utilities; Access.
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`(a) Tenant shall have the right, at its expense, to erect and maintain on the
`Premises improvements, personal property and facilities necessary to operate its
`communications system, including, without limitation, radio transmitting and
`receiving antennas, microwave dishes, tower and base, equipment shelters and/or
`cabinets and related cables and utility lines and a location based system, as such
`location based system may be required by any county, state or federal
`agency/department including, without limitation, additional antenna(s), coaxial
`cable, base units and other associated equipment (collectively, the "Antenna
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`Facilities"). Tenant shall have the right to alter, replace, expand, enhance and
`upgrade the Antenna Facilities at any time during the term of this Lease.
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`(Lease, ¶ 7(a)) (emphasis added).
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`23.
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`The Lease further provides:
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`5. Permitted Use.
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`The Premises may be used by Tenant for the transmission and reception of radio
`communication signals and for
`the construction,
`installation, operation,
`maintenance, repair, removal or replacement of related facilities, including,
`without limitation, tower and base, antennas, microwave dishes, equipment
`shelters and/or cabinets and related activities.
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`(Lease, ¶ 5) (emphasis added).
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`THE EXISTING WIRELESS EQUIPMENT AND PROPOSED UPGRADES
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`24.
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`T-Mobile’s Antenna Facilities are uniquely situated on the Property to provide
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`wireless services to customers of T-Mobile, USA, Inc. (T-Mobile’s parent company) in the
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`Property's vicinity. T-Mobile’s ability to access the Property to maintain and improve its
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`equipment is critical in allowing T-Mobile to provide its thousands of wireless customers, and
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`emergency services personnel, with the highest quality service.
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`25.
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`The Antenna Facilities, including all nine existing radio antennas at the site, are
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`located on the roof. The nine existing antennas were installed at three "sectors" on the roof
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`(three at each sector), each sector spaced apart at the edge of the roof and pointing in different
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`directions to transmit the radio waves accordingly. Spanning in front of the antennas, looking
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`outward onto the roof, is sheathing screen at each sector, covering the antennas and
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`accompanying radios and cables, so that the equipment is hidden. The screen is approximately
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`12 feet long.
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`26.
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`The screen is depicted in construction drawings prepared in August 2019 by T-
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`Mobile's licensed engineers, Com Ex Engineers of NY. The construction drawings also depict
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`the upgrades at issue. The drawings show at each sector the work proposed: (a) removing the
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`three existing antennas and radio (RRU) behind the screen, (b) replacing them with three new
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`antennas and an RRU, (c) adding one new antenna also behind the screen, and (d) installing
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`appropriate structural reinforcements for greater support. (See Com Ex Engineers' Construction
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`Drawings shared with Landlord in 2019, annexed as Ex. B).
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`27.
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`Upon completion of the proposed upgrades, all 12 antennas (four at each sector
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`rather than the current three) will still be shielded behind the existing sheathing screen. This
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`means no additional space will be taken on the roof, and no visible change will occur.
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`28.
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`The replacement of the nine antennas and installation of three additional antennas
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`at all three sectors will enhance the quality and efficacy of the wireless communications, all
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`consistent with T-Mobile's upgrades at like Antenna Facilities within T-Mobile's wireless
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`network.
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`LANDLORD HAS BREACHED THE LEASE
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`29.
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`In or about mid-2019, T-Mobile first notified Landlord that it was going to
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`perform the upgrades depicted in the annexed Com Ex Engineer construction drawings. In
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`emails exchanged between T-Mobile's representatives and Landlord's property manager, Samir
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`Suljovic, son and authorized representative of Defendant Remzija Suljonic, Mr. Suljovic told T-
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`Mobile that any additional antennas would not be allowed, and that as a condition to permitting
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`the upgrades, ¶ 7(a) of the Lease would need to be re-written, asserting that T-Mobile had
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`engaged in "deceitful" conduct. Mr. Suljovic further stated that T-Mobile would need to pay
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`Landlord additional rental income over and above the rental amounts expressly agreed to by
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`Defendants under Section 4 of the Lease, as he was not satisfied with the initial Lease terms.
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`30.
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`By letter dated March 20, 2020, a true copy of which is attached as Ex. C, T-
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`Mobile requested Landlord's cooperation to allow the upgrades. Defendants refused T-Mobile's
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`request.
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`31.
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`The pandemic then erupted and caused a slowdown in work throughout the
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`country. However, in January 2021, T-Mobile renewed its efforts to perform the upgrades at the
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`Property without further delay.
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`32.
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`In mid-January, 2021, T-Mobile's contractors visited the Property. They were
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`given permission by Landlord's representative, Samir Suljovic,
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`to perform structural
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`modifications on the roof for greater support of the antenna mounts. The contractors were
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`expressly told by Mr. Suljovic, however, that T-Mobile could not add any antennas despite T-
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`Mobile's request and its clear upgrade rights under the Lease.
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`33.
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`By letter dated February 18, 2021, a true copy of which is attached as Ex. D, T-
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`Mobile's attorneys, Porzio, Bromberg & Newman, PC, wrote to Defendants and again demanded
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`cooperation and adherence to the Lease's unambiguous terms, failing which they would likely
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`face legal action compelling compliance with the Lease, and reimbursement of all reasonable
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`legal fees T-Mobile incurs as authorized by ¶ 18(a) of the Lease. Defendants ignored the
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`February 18, 2021 letter.
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`34.
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`Landlord is acting in bad faith and in willful defiance of its Lease obligations in
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`refusing T-Mobile's requests. In furtherance of federal policy and the public good, T-Mobile
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`seeks to upgrade its Antenna Facilities, while Defendants seek to exploit the opportunity to
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`“squeeze” additional rent from T-Mobile.
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`35.
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`If T-Mobile is not permitted to enhance its Antenna Facilities, it will be unable to
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`service the ever-increasing volume of voice and data signals for its customers, a service for
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`which its customers pay fees. As a result, T-Mobile’s customers and emergency service
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`personnel may experience dropped calls, loss of data service and a slow down of voice and/or
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`data transmissions. T-Mobile could invariably experience a loss of goodwill, business, and
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`customers in an amount that cannot be quantified.
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`36.
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`Rather than face any false charge of wrongful entry onto the Property to perform
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`the upgrades, T-Mobile brings this action for appropriate equitable and declaratory relief from
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`this Court.
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`FIRST CLAIM FOR RELIEF
`(Specific Performance)
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`37.
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` Plaintiff repeats each and every allegation aforementioned as if set forth at
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`length herein.
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`38.
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`Under the Lease, T-Mobile has the express right to "alter, replace, expand,
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`enhance and upgrade" the Antenna Facilities during the term of the Lease. There is no condition
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`attendant to such important rights.
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`39.
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`The Lease also grants T-Mobile without condition the right to use the Property for
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`the transmission and reception of radio communication signals, and for the construction,
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`installation, operation, maintenance, repair, removal or replacement of related facilities,
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`including, without limitation, tower and base, antennas, microwave dishes, equipment shelters
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`and/or cabinets and related activities.
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`40.
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`Landlord's refusal to allow T-Mobile to reasonably enhance and upgrade its
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`Antenna Facilities as part of its wireless network, which enhancement will not take up any
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`additional space on the roof and will be completely shielded behind the existing sheathing screen
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`at each of the three sectors where the antennas currently exist, is a breach of the Lease.
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`41.
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`The remedy of specific performance is appropriate to require Landlord to honor
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`its contractual obligations under the Lease, which it voluntarily entered into.
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`42.
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`The terms of the Lease are unambiguous, and specific performance poses no
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`undue, disproportionate, or inequitable burden upon Landlord.
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`43. Money damages are an inadequate remedy in light of the unique nature of the real
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`property and the services that the Antenna Facilities on the Property provide to the general
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`public, law enforcement, and emergency first responders.
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`44.
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`By reason of the foregoing, T-Mobile demands a decree in its favor and against
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`each of the Defendants in the form of specific performance to enforce the Lease terms, and
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`particularly, granting T-Mobile immediate access to the Property so it can install, maintain, and
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`enhance its Antenna Facilities without further delay.
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`SECOND CLAIM FOR RELIEF
`(Declaratory Judgment)
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`45.
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`Plaintiff repeats and realleges each and every allegation aforementioned as if set
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`forth at length herein.
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`46.
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`The express provisions of the Lease require Landlord to permit T-Mobile to
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`access the Property and replace and enhance its Antenna Facilities. This includes replacement
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`and supplementation of its antennas and related radio equipment as depicted in the construction
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`drawings provided to Landlord for this site.
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`47.
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`T-Mobile has made numerous requests for such access, and Landlord has
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`repeatedly denied the right to add any antenna, conditioning such right on an agreement to pay
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`additional monthly rent and revising the existing Lease provisions regarding upgrade rights.
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`48.
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`Landlord has unreasonably claimed that T-Mobile must pay additional rent and
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`agree to revise the Lease as a condition to allowing upgrades.
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`49.
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`Accordingly, an actual controversy of a justiciable issue exists between T-Mobile
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`and Landlord within the jurisdiction of this Court, involving the rights and obligations of the
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`parties under the Lease.
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`50.
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`Antagonistic claims exist between the parties with respect to whether or not T-
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`Mobile is entitled to unimpeded access to replace and enhance its Antenna Facilities, and
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`whether additional monthly rent payments are permissible, as Landlord demands.
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`51.
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`By reason of the foregoing, T-Mobile seeks a declaration that the Lease requires
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`each Defendant, and their agents and representatives, to permit T-Mobile and its agents,
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`contractors, and representatives to have unimpeded access to the Property to replace, improve,
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`upgrade, and enhance its Antenna Facilities, which includes installation of three new antennas,
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`one at each of the existing three sectors on the roof.
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`THIRD CLAIM FOR RELIEF
`(Injunction)
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`52.
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`Plaintiff repeats and realleges each and every allegation aforementioned as if set
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`forth at length herein.
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`53.
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`The equities here require that Defendants, and their agents and representatives, be
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`enjoined from interfering with T-Mobile's Lease rights, and be directed to permit the needed
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`upgrades and enhancements to its equipment.
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`54.
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`55.
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`The public and first responders will benefit from such injunctive relief.
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`Defendants will not be harmed to be ordered to abide by and honor the Lease to
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`which they each agreed.
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`FOURTH CLAIM FOR RELIEF
`(Reimbursement of Legal Fees Pursuant to the Lease)
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`56.
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`Plaintiff repeats and realleges each and every allegation aforementioned as if set
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`forth at length herein.
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`Section 18(a) of the Lease states:
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`18. Miscellaneous.
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`(a) The prevailing party in any litigation arising hereunder shall be entitled to
`reimbursement from the other party of its reasonable attorneys' fees and court
`costs, including appeals, if any.
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`57.
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`T-Mobile requests that the court award it all reasonable attorneys and court costs
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`in this action, which has been thrust upon T-Mobile due to Defendants' unreasonable refusal to
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`cooperate, bad faith, and attempt to hold T-Mobile up for ransom knowing that it wants to
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`perform the upgrades at issue.
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`WHEREFORE, plaintiff T-Mobile demands judgment against Defendants, as follows:
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`(a) On the First Claim for Relief, compelling Defendants to perform all
`obligations under the Lease under a decree of specific performance, including
`allowing all upgrade and enhancement work that T-Mobile seeks to perform
`to its equipment on the roof at the Property;
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`(b) On the Second Claim for Relief, awarding T-Mobile a declaration that the
`Lease requires Defendants to permit T-Mobile and its representatives and
`contractors to have unimpeded access to the Property to replace, upgrade, and
`enhance its Antenna Facilities;
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`(c) On the Third Claim for Relief, enjoining Defendants and their agents and
`representatives from interfering with T-Mobile's Lease rights, and be directed
`to permit the needed upgrades and enhancements to its equipment.
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`(d) On the Fourth Claim for Relief, granting T-Mobile all court costs and
`reasonable attorneys’ fees as provided under the Lease; and
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`(e) Granting T-Mobile such other and further relief as deemed just and proper.
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`Dated: New York, New York
`May 14, 2021
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`PORZIO, BROMBERG & NEWMAN, P.C.
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`By:
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`s/Gary M. Fellner
`Gary M. Fellner
`1675 Broadway, Suite 1810
`New York, NY 10019
`Tel: 212-265-6888
`Email: gmfellner@pbnlaw.com
`Attorneys for Plaintiff, T-Mobile Northeast LLC
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