EP 138 - THE GHOSTBUSTER RULING OF 1991!

Written By Dylan Cantu

Did you know there was a house in New York that was legally declared haunted? In 1991 there was a legal battle between the buyer and seller of a 1890’s Victorian Style home and it's all because it was allegedly haunted. For this week's episode I’m going to do my best to explain in "Dylan terms" the various legal and real estate terms used to break down this case. So get ready to think, but enjoy hearing how the result of this legal battle ended up being called the Ghostbusters Ruling. Enjoy!

 

1 Laveta Place in Nyack, NY

 

An inside look

 

Legally declared haunted

 

This case is still taught in law schools

 
 

SOURCE MATERIALS:

For the story:

  1. Weber, N. B. (2021, March 26). 1 Laveta Place, Nyack, NY 10960. Zillow. Retrieved October 15, 2023, from https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1-Laveta-Pl-Nyack-NY-10960/32384985_zpid/

  2. Poletto, C. (2019, September 19). Haunted house in Nyack, NY, is for sale again. New York Post. Retrieved October 15, 2023, from https://nypost.com/2019/09/19/legally-haunted-new-york-manor-is-for-sale-again/amp/

  3. Nosowitz, D. (2010, August 6). The Ghost of Nyack – Nyack, New York. Atlas Obscura. Retrieved October 15, 2023, from https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-ghost-of-nyack-nyack-new-york

  4. Content Team. (2017, May 17). Stambovsky v. Ackley - Case Summary and Case Brief. Legal Dictionary. Retrieved October 15, 2023, from https://legaldictionary.net/stambovsky-v-ackley/#google_vignette

  5. Berman, T. (n.d.). Stambovsky v. Ackley | Case Brief for Law Students. Casebriefs. Retrieved October 15, 2023, from https://www.casebriefs.com/blog/law/property/property-law-keyed-to-dukeminier/the-land-transaction/stambovsky-v-ackley/

  6. Smarter Legal Research. (n.d.). Stambovsky v. Ackley, 169 A.D.2d 254. Casetext. Retrieved October 15, 2023, from https://casetext.com/case/stambovsky-v-ackley

  7. Law.Cornell.Edu. (n.d.). Stambovsky v. Ackley | Wex | US Law | LII / Legal Information Institute. Law.Cornell.Edu. Retrieved October 15, 2023, from https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/stambovsky_v._ackley

  8. Welber, B. (2022, April 6). Look Inside Hudson Valley, New York Home That's Legally Haunted. Hudson Valley Post. Retrieved October 15, 2023, from https://hudsonvalleypost.com/look-inside-hudson-valley-new-york-home-thats-legally-haunted/

  9. R, A. (2023, March 23). Is Hell house LLC based on a true story? Ending Explained, Plot - News. Fresherslive. Retrieved October 15, 2023, from https://www.fresherslive.com/latest/articles/is-hell-house-llc-based-on-a-true-story-ending-explained-plot-10023163

  10. The Haunted Librarian. (2021, August 18). Tag Archives: Helen and George Ackley. The Haunted Librarian. Retrieved October 15, 2023, from https://thehauntedlibrarian.com/tag/helen-and-george-ackley/

For the Video:

  1. Ghostbusters. (2020, May 26). Original Trailer (1984) | GHOSTBUSTERS. YouTube. Retrieved October 15, 2023, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQAljlSmjC8

  2. YouTube & Bloody Disgusting Horror. (2019, March 9). HELL HOUSE LLC (2016) Official Trailer HD. YouTube. Retrieved October 20, 2023, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQtqL6UskEY&t=3s

For the Image:

  1. The Haunted Librarian. (2021, August 18). Tag Archives: Helen and George Ackley. The Haunted Librarian. Retrieved October 15, 2023, from https://thehauntedlibrarian.com/tag/helen-and-george-ackley/

  2. Wright, M. (2019, October 1). Five-bedroom upstate New York pad declared 'legally haunted' hits the market for $1.9million. Daily Mail. Retrieved October 15, 2023, from https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7524825/Five-bedroom-upstate-New-York-pad-declared-legally-haunted-hits-market-1-9million.html

  3. Chegg. (n.d.). Spotlight on Sales of Haunted Houses Case 49.2. Chegg. Retrieved October 15, 2023, from https://www.chegg.com/homework-help/questions-and-answers/spotlight-sales-haunted-houses-case-492-stambovsky-v-ackley-supreme-court-appellate-divisi-q56412321

  4. Mason, J. (2020, May 25). House Declared 'Legally Haunted' Is for Sale. The Mary Sue. Retrieved October 15, 2023, from https://www.themarysue.com/legally-haunted-house-for-sale/

  5. Travel Maven. (2023, February 9). This Hudson Valley Home is so Terrifying it has Been Legally Declared Haunted by New York State | Travel Maven. NewsBreak Original. Retrieved October 15, 2023, from https://original.newsbreak.com/@travel-maven-561551/2919883309727-this-hudson-valley-home-is-so-terrifying-it-has-been-legally-declared-haunted-by-new-york-state

Dylan Cantu
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