Wed Dec 25 08:58:24 UTC 2024: ## McDonald’s Demands Demolition of $50 Million Penthouse in Manhattan Legal Battle
**New York, NY** – A legal battle is brewing in Manhattan between fast-food giant McDonald’s and Michael A. Smith, the former CEO of StreetEasy, over a luxury penthouse atop a Tribeca condominium. McDonald’s is suing Smith, demanding the demolition of his lavish four-deck penthouse with a private pool at 147 Reade Street, claiming ownership of the rooftop space.
The dispute centers on a 3,700-square-foot rooftop area expanded in 2007. McDonald’s asserts it purchased four commercial units in the building in 1990, securing easements that included the rooftop space for a cooling tower. The company claims the tower was removed in 2006, but Smith, who acquired the penthouse, proceeded with the expansion in 2007, allegedly violating the easement.
Smith, who made $50 million from the sale of StreetEasy to Zillow, maintains that the statute of limitations has expired, citing a 2021 motion to dismiss. His attorney referred to this prior legal action.
This is not the first legal challenge concerning Smith’s penthouse. In 2021, the condo board accused him of misrepresenting the expansion’s scope, seeking $5 million in damages. The current lawsuit by McDonald’s adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing legal saga surrounding the high-end property. The outcome of this case will determine whether Smith must dismantle his expansive penthouse or prevail against the fast-food giant’s claim.
First Piper 