New York 'Chain Smoking' Woman Angers Neighbors With Habit During Lockdown, Faces Lawsuit

Deborah Schevill, 74, has been smoking incessantly and toking wee in her 4th-floor apartment in Manhattan. Her upstairs neighbor, Marianne Spinelli, allegedly became "violently ill" because of the smoke that reaches her apartment. This was all narrated in the lawsuit filed by Schevill's landlords J&P Realty LLC on Wednesday.

According to the suit, the imposed lockdowns due to the pandemic led many tenants to be at home almost 24/7. The landlord also stated that they have imposed a no-smoking rule within building premises since March.

However, despite the imposition, Schevill allegedly continued to chain-smoke in her apartment. This was according to the court papers. It also stated that her activities "led to a permanent odor of secondhand smoke within the hallway outside Apartment 5-C and often spreads to the floor below and surrounding areas." In addition, the suit also reiterated that secondhand smoke is a "particular danger" and a health risk during the pandemic.

Spinelli, the upstairs neighbor who has been living in the building since 1977, revealed to ThePost that Schevill smokes incessantly. She complained that the smoke burns her lungs and sinuses. She also said that she's suffering from loss of sleep and migraines and that she knows when Schevill is already sleeping because it's the only time that there wouldn't be smoke in her apartment. As per the court papers, Spinelli said that she had to wear a scarf and a mask even while indoors.

Spinelli also mentioned that she's allergic to cigarette smoke and that there was an incident where she became "deathly sick" but did not call the ambulance because they have other problems.

As for Schevill, the court papers said that the old woman also insists that she has the right to smoke within her unit. She told The Post through her door that she was very sick and that she already quit smoking.

J&P Reality filed the lawsuit against both Schevill, defendant, and Spinelli, a co-defendant. Counsel of J&P revealed that they are asking a judge to prohibit Schevill from smoking in her unit and for at least $10,000 in lawyers' fees. As for Spinelli, she said that she does not want J&P to enter her apartment until they also enter Schevill's apartment.

According to J&P's counsel, they don't want to evict both old ladies. They are just seeking to keep their building compliant with the law.