Vincent Hazel Jr. holds photo of his father, who died without a will last June.
Vincent Hazel Jr. went to his late father’s Bronx apartment expecting to pick up the 81-year-old man’s belongings.
But he never had the chance. Everything, including a lifetime of memories, was gone.
Now he’s suing the co-op complex for $1million in Bronx Supreme Court.
The Hempstead, L.I., tour bus driver made arrangements to pick up his father’s possessions, but workers at Concourse Village callously threw out all of Vincent Hazel Sr.’s possessions and family mementos in August 2009, according to the lawsuit.
“I thought it would be cut and dry,” said Hazel, 59. “I thought I’d go to management, pick up his stuff and start the funeral arrangements.”
But Hazel’s nightmare was only beginning.
Vincent Hazel Sr., who worked as a butcher and a parking lot attendant, died without a will on June 21.
His son planned to clean up his dad’s apartment - sifting through a lifetime of photos, paperwork and possessions - but management at the complex told Hazel he had to prove he was in charge of his father’s estate, he said.
“They told me I had to go to Surrogate’s Court, and they wouldn’t let me back into the apartment until I had the right papers,” Hazel said.
He went to the court several times and even to the local police precinct before he was able to secure the correct paperwork.
He arranged with management to remove his father’s belongings between Aug. 22 and 27, Court papers say.
Hazel received a “move in/move out permit” from management on Aug. 18. But when he returned on Aug. 22, everything was gone, his lawyer said.
“They just packed up his dad’s stuff, and it’s all gone,” said attorney Frank Pellegrini. “It was sheer incompetence.” Read more..
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