Surviving Emotional Support Animal Requests

Send us Fan MailWhen a newly married couple applied to a Riverdale co-op with an emotional support animal request, their board faced a situation that most no-pet buildings aren't prepared for — and the fallout landed them before the Human Rights Commission. Eric Goidel, senior partner at Borah Goldstein Altschuler Nahins & Goidel, walks through the case step by step, explaining the unconventional strategy he recommended and why it matters for any board navigating ESA requests. The lesson here isn't just about pets — it's about documentation, process, and knowing where the real legal exposure lives before a complaint ever gets filed. Habitat's Carol Ott conducts the interview. The business of running a building is demanding work that requires making endless decisions — some that can quickly lead your board into a quagmire of legal difficulties. Legal Talk interviews New York's leading co-op/condo attorneys to find solutions, and get some guidance, on these challenges.  For more co-op and condo insights, sign up to receive Habitat's free newsletters or become a Habitat subscriber today!