Queen of England sues over apartment fees
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Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain
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NEW YORK (Reuters) -- When it comes to Manhattan cooperative apartment boards hungry for extra money, it does not make any difference if you are the Queen of England.
A lawsuit in the royal name was launched Monday against a cooperative apartment building on ritzy Park Avenue because the board voted to charge extra fees totaling $83,500 when Canadian diplomats move into apartments she nominally owns.
The suit was filed by "Her Majesty the Queen in right of Canada" who is "sovereign of the United Kingdom" in Manhattan federal court against the 550 Park Avenue Corp. The suit alleges that the fees violate the provisions of the original purchase agreements and seeks a court order voiding the fees.
Nadia Scipio del Campo, a spokesperson for the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs in Ottawa, said the suit was actually brought by the Canadian government but that official documents must bear the name of the queen.
The units are used by Canada's Consul General in New York and Permanent Representative to the United Nations.
The dispute centers on action taken by the board last year to charge fees to apartment owners when new residents move in.
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