NYC real estate empire rocked by property mogul’s marital strife

A police name final month over a home disturbance in Palm Seashore, Fla., is threatening to rock a New York actual property empire managed by a pair of feuding brothers, The Submit has discovered.

Round 10 p.m. on Dec. 9, Palm Seashore police answered a 911 name from the waterfront property of 66-year-old Abraham Haruvi, who collectively along with his brother Arthur owns greater than 30 buildings housing 500 flats throughout New York Metropolis, largely situated on Manhattan’s Higher East Aspect and Higher West Aspect.

Giovana Stephenson, Abe Haruvi’s spouse of 14 years, was standing outdoors the 9,700-square-foot, Regency-style mansion — boasting a pool, outside fountains and its personal non-public boat dock simply 4 blocks from Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Membership — awaiting police with the couple’s two kids, based on a police report obtained by The Submit.

Police answered a name at this Palm Seashore mansion, the place they discovered Giovana Stephenson and two kids awaiting them outdoors.

When cops arrived, she confirmed an officer scratch marks that left “redness” on her chest, claiming her husband “scratched and hit”her throughout an argument that ensued after she accused him of “hiding one thing on his telephone,” the report stated. Haruvi was led outdoors in handcuffs and charged with misdemeanor battery, based on the report. He was later ordered to maneuver out and stop all contact along with his spouse, based on a restraining order obtained by The Submit.

In happier times back in 2010, Giovana Stephenson and husband Abe Haruvi enjoyed an event at the Mar-a-Lago Club
In happier instances again in 2010, Giovana Stephenson and husband Abe Haruvi loved an occasion on the Mar-a-Lago Membership.
Getty Photos

Now, the incident is poised to make waves in Manhattan, as Haruvi faces an costly divorce that might lastly spell the unraveling of a $200 million, Large Apple actual property empire that has weathered a number of lawsuits between Abe and Arthur Haruvi. Each accused one another of stealing from the enterprise — that their father, Jacob, constructed — along with mismanagement and dereliction, based on court docket paperwork.

After the Dec. 9 incident, Stephenson employed Joel Weissman — a high-powered Palm Seashore divorce legal professional who practices martial arts in his spare time and has been nicknamed “Mad Canine” due to his aggressive courtroom model, based on a City & Nation report. His purchasers have included billionaire Purple Sox proprietor John Henry and the late New York Yankees accomplice Jack Satter.

A feud between Arthur and Abe Haruvi — mixed with a home violence allegation in opposition to the latter in Florida — threatens to shake up their residential actual property holdings in New York Metropolis.
VWPics by way of AP Photos

That, in flip, might drive Abe Haruvi to promote his stake within the New York actual property portfolio, as “he doesn't have a variety of money mendacity round,” based on a supply near the state of affairs. About 40% of the corporate’s leases have been vacant through the top of the pandemic, sparking a liquidity disaster that solely received resolved after Arthur filed a lawsuit in opposition to Abraham in July, forcing him to comply with a debt-refinancing deal, based on sources.

Stephenson declined to remark, however Weissman advised The Submit that the couple’s prenup settlement might price Haruvi $8 million plus the Palm Seashore mansion, which they purchased in 2011 for $7.8 million, in addition to different property. The quantity will possible swell with the battery cost, which might set off a so-called “unhealthy boy” clause within the prenup, Weissman added. State prosecutors filed battery costs in opposition to Abe Haruvi on Jan. 22 with a listening to slated for late March. Haruvi has pleaded not responsible, based on his lawyer.

“A divorce will happen,” Weissman stated. “From my consumer’s perspective, the wedding will not be salvageable.”

Giovana Stephenson, Abe Haruvi and TV star Tina Louise sit together at a concert event at Mar-a-Lago.
Giovana and Abe Haruvi rubbed elbows with TV and film star Tina Louise (who will not be concerned in any of the disputes) at an Andrea Bocelli live performance at Mar-a-Lago in 2010.
Getty Photos

Whereas the Haruvi brothers have saved a low profile regardless of the dimensions of their holdings, they each got here beneath fireplace within the late Nineteen Nineties for allegedly attempting to evict rent-stabilized tenants, claiming to wish the flats for themselves or for members of the family, based on experiences on the time. Roughly 35% of their flats are rent-stabilized.

In the course of the pandemic, their earnings was slashed and their $53 million mortgage was thrown into default. Arthur had organized to refinance the mortgage whereas profiting from traditionally low rates of interest, however Abe initially refused to signal the papers “for no different cause however to additional a private vendetta,” based on the criticism filed in July.

Out of exasperation, based on a supply, Arthur sued his brother to compel him to signal.

In an earlier 2020 lawsuit, Arthur had accused Abe of skimming cash for his private use from seven buildings owned by Simry Realty Corp., together with 4 contiguous buildings on West 54th Road in Midtown Manhattan. Abe, the swimsuit claimed, had instructed numerous Simry staff to cost extra for his or her companies and gave some bonuses as a part of a “nefarious plan” to drive Simry into default in order that Abe “will likely be positioned to buy the debt from the lender, foreclose on the collateral and usurp complete unfettered management of Simry’s property.”

An Upper East Side block of apartments
The feuding Haruvi brothers personal about 500 flats in New York Metropolis, a lot of them on the Higher East Aspect.
Bloomberg by way of Getty Photos

The criticism was withdrawn because the brothers settled the matter, based on a supply with data of the problem. In a short interview final week, Abe Haruvi stated he's presently not in litigation along with his brother.

“That is one other instance of [my family] attempting to disgrace me publicly,” Abe Haruvi advised The Submit. “Nonetheless, the reality will come out and I hope you can be found to report it at the moment.”

Arthur Haruvi didn’t reply to requests for remark.

The Dec. 9 incident isn’t the primary time Abe Haruvi and Giovana Stephenson’s family affairs have spilled into public view. In 2010, simply earlier than the couple moved into the manse from a house close by, a housekeeper sued them, claiming she was pressured to work 19 hours a day whereas she shared residing quarters with their canines.

Susan Palchak stands in front of her apartment on East Third Street
A decade in the past, The Submit reported on the story of tenant Susan Palchak, who obtained an eviction discover from landlord Abe Haruvi with Abart Holdings for her house at 50 E. third St. in Manhattan.
BRIGITTE STELZER

As well as, Irma Diaz claimed in her swimsuit filed in Florida that she was pressured to make use of a bathe the place the canines urinated and defecated, and that Stephenson “recurrently pushed, squeezed, shook and slapped” her.

Stephenson, via her lawyer Weissman, declined to touch upon Diaz’s allegations.

Abe Haruvi advised The Submit he was by no means served with the maid’s lawsuit, dismissing it as a ploy “by an legal professional to embarrass me.” The lawsuit was ultimately withdrawn.

As for the Dec. 9 incident, he stated “the reality will come out” and that he places his “total belief within the justice system” to make that occur.

“I’m trying ahead to being discovered harmless of all costs and I await the day that justice is served,” Haruvi advised The Submit. “I steadfastly maintain onto my innocence and will probably be confirmed.”

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