Man Falls Down Elevator Shaft In Building Managed By Shamco

A man fell down an elevator shaft after trying to escape an elevator that was stuck in a building at 1 St. Paul’s Court on Monday morning, according CBS New York.

Paul Masdeu was inside the elevator when it got stuck near the third floor. After calling for help, he decided to pry the doors open and climb out, but fell. He is being treated for minor injuries, reported the news outlet.

“That elevator should have been fixed years ago,” resident Bobby Davis told CBS. “Now look what happened. We have a young man in the hospital.”

According to the Department of Buildings, the elevator was inspected as recently as this summer, however building management company Shamco has been accused of buying up rent stabilized property and trying to force stabilized tenants out, particularly in the Ditmas Park/Flatbush area.

According to a recent article in City Limits, “one favorite Shamco trick, according to residents and tenant organizers, is to seek to recoup the cost of major upgrades to their buildings via rent hikes above and beyond what rent regulations would normally allow.” Often making these claims despite not actually upgrading the buildings.

Landlord harassment has continued to be a big issue in the area recently. Tenants of a building on East 17th Street are suing their landlord for similar tactics.