A wealthy New York mogul has left his $7 million Manhattan penthouse neglected for six years, sparking a series of disturbances in the area. The board of directors of a high-rise building on 57th Street, known as “Billionaire’s Row” in Central Park, filed a lawsuit against the whimsical individual on August 6, claiming $2.5 million for the maintenance of the building.
The defendant is a globally recognized figure – the famous magician David Copperfield. He became known to the Chinese people in 1986 when he famously crossed the Great Wall physically in front of a crowd, making the American magician “David” known to the Chinese ever since.
According to the lawsuit filed by the Manhattan State Supreme Court, the board of directors of the Gallaeria Condominium complained that David did not take care of his most expensive penthouse on the 55th floor of 117 West 57th Street after he completely vacated it in 2018, allowing the luxury residence to deteriorate.
The lawsuit includes numerous photos showing peeling walls, dirty floors, and cracked bathtub. The committee complained that in 2015 David’s swimming pool burst, causing flooding for the residents below on the 30th floor; in 2017, the building almost went into litigation with him due to lack of maintenance of the windows; last year, the water pipe valve in his room burst, affecting the elevator shaft and several neighboring units.
The plaintiff is “unclear” as to why David purchased this property and did not maintain it. According to the lawsuit, David bought the unit for $7.4 million in 1997, transferring it to one of his companies in 1998.
“After occupying the unit, Copperfield filled it with peculiar items, such as fortune-telling machines, classic street games, and other strange items, including a ‘prank device’ apparently used by fraternal organizations at the turn of the century,” the lawsuit states. “In addition to these oddities, Copperfield’s conduct in the apartment sharply contrasted with that of the model residents. In particular, his maintenance (or lack thereof) of the unit has been a significant and ongoing issue for quite some time – widely reported in ‘Page Six’ and other media.”
The lawsuit mentions that “In fact, architects have warned the condominium that, among other things, Copperfield’s apartment has unrepaired water hazards, the severity of which poses risks to the ‘building’s concrete structure,’ promotes the growth of mold, and seriously endangers other units.”
The plaintiff demands that David immediately maintain his luxury residence and pay $2.5 million in compensation.
A look at David’s performance schedule online shows that he has been conducting commercial shows in Las Vegas.
Our publication reached out to David’s management company for comment.