About the Eviction Process in Ronkonkoma
If you are a landlord, and your apartment is located in Ronkonkoma, or anywhere else within the Town of Islip in Suffolk County, New York, then your eviction proceeding will take place in the Landlord-Tenant Part of the Suffolk County District Court, Fifth District, located at 3105 Veterans Memorial Highway, Ronkonkoma, New York 11779-7614. The sitting judge in this Court is the Honorable Vincent J. Martorana, District Court Judge, who will preside over your eviction proceeding. The courthouse is the second largest of the Suffolk County District Court facilities, and houses both the First and Fifth District Courts. It is located in an industrial office park on the north side of Veterans Memorial Highway and has a very large parking lot. The courthouse is also accessible by bus on the Suffolk County S57 and S54 lines. You can find out more about this Court, including available public transportation and maps, by clicking here.
Landlord-Tenant Court in Ronkonkoma takes place every Thursday and begins at 9:30 AM. At that time the calendar will be called for the first time, and will be called again at about 10:30 AM. When your case is called, if all parties are present, the Judge will direct you to step outside the courtroom into the courthouse lobby to discuss the matter privately in hopes of settling your case.
If you settle your case, you must submit a written stipulation of settlement to the Judge, who will review it. For tenants who are not represented by attorneys, the Judge will ask certain questions before accepting the settlement. For example, he will ask the tenant if the signature on the stipulation is the tenant’s; if the tenant read it before signing; if the tenant signed it voluntarily; if the tenant understands it; and if the tenant agrees to be bound by its terms. If the tenant answers yes to all of those questions, the Judge will then describe the terms of the stipulation on the record. If he finds it acceptable, your case will be settled.
If you cannot settle, you will have a hearing, usually later in the day, at which you must be prepared to testify. After hearing both sides, the Judge will make a decision. If the landlord prevails, a judgment of possession and a warrant of eviction will be issued. A monetary judgment may also be included for back rent. If the tenant prevails, the case will be dismissed.
Both parties are entitled to one adjournment as a matter of right. If the other side does not consent, then the maximum adjournment is one week and the case may be marked final against the party requesting the adjournment. A party who does not appear is in default. If the landlord fails to appear, the case will be dismissed; if the landlord appears but the tenant fails to appear, the landlord will win by default.
About Ronkonkoma
Ronkonkoma is a hamlet in the Town of Islip on Long Island, New York, with a population of about 20,000. Since 1988, the Long Island Railroad’s electrification has ended at Ronkonkoma, and the track between Hicksville and Ronkonkoma is referred to as the Ronkonkoma Branch.
Ronkonkoma is also home to Long Island MacArthur Airport (airport code ISP), which is owned and operated by the Town of Islip. The New York Air Route Traffic Control Center is also located in Ronkonkoma.
Vitamin manufacturer, NBTY, is based in Ronkonkoma. Other notable residents include actress, Maude Adams; basketball coach, Joe Jones; musician/producer, Steve Hass; actress Moira Kelly; singer/songwriter, Lennon Murphy; and graffiti artist, Banksy.
Ronkonkoma is mentioned in the songs, “Busting Up a Starbucks” and “Like a Luminous Girl,” by singer/songwriter, Mike Doughty. It is also mentioned in the song, “5 Alive,” by Self on their album Gizmodgery.
Ronkonkoma was also referenced by comedian, Artie Lange, during the March 3, 2009, Late Show with David Letterman. The comic recounted a story of sitting at a Yankees game in front of fans who repeatedly cheered on Derek Jeter by shouting, “Do it for Ronkonkoma!”
In the second season premiere of Unforgettable, Eliot Delson threatens to relocate a detective to Ronkonkoma. In the season 7 episode of How I Met Your Mother,“The Drunk Train,” Neil Patrick Harris’ character, Barney Stinson, shouts, “Do I look like I’m from Ronkonkoma!?” In the season 9 premiere, Josh Radnor’s character, Ted Mosby, mentions stopping at a butter churn in Ronkonkoma.
Clearly, Ronkonkoma is thought of as a backwoods place in the media. While it is quaint, however, Ronkonkoma is a reasonably well developed place whose media reputation to the contrary is not necessarily earned.