Eviction moratorium at center of high-profile dispute in Norwalk housing court

A former Disney executive who rented out his home in June to a family looking to escape New York City during the pandemic is now involved in a court battle.

News 12 Staff

Nov 6, 2020, 10:55 PM

Updated 1,427 days ago

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A former Disney executive who rented out his home in June to a family looking to escape New York City during the pandemic is now involved in a court battle.
Court documents show that former Disney executive Larry Rutkowski is trying to get Mark and Denora Getachew removed from his $2.2 million home on Stallion Trail, claiming they have not paid the monthly $11,000 in rent.
Rutkowski's attorney, Eric Grayson, says the first month's rent was paid in June when the lease was signed, but no rent has been paid since.
Grayson says the Getachews are taking advantage of the eviction moratorium put into place by Gov. Ned Lamont.
"The COVID moratorium has its place," says Grayson. "There's no doubt about it that workers were affected, people are struggling to pay rent. Absolutely legitimate. This isn't the situation it was meant to protect. These are two lawyers from New York with meaningful incomes."
The Getachews, who initiated the case in court, say there's a reason rent hasn't been paid. Their complaint alleges Rutkowski lied to them by claiming the property's pool, hot tub and waterfall were in good working condition when they signed the lease.
The Getachews say they have spent more than $46,000 in repairs, which Rutkowski hasn't reimbursed them for.
In a statement to News 12, the Getachews' attorney Alison Baker said in part, "The Getachews' position is that the house was nowhere close to being in proper working condition. The Getachews are concerned that the landlord has pursued a campaign to harass, threaten and disparage them by making false claims to the court and/or media...."