Magician David Copperfield ‘trashed’ his $7 million Manhattan penthouse, leaving it in a state of ‘absolute disrepair’ that could potentially damage the entire building, an explosive lawsuit claims.
The famed illusionist is accused of abandoning The Galleria’s “previously pristine” multi-level penthouse on East 57th Street around 2018, according to the lawsuit filed by the building’s board.
Photos of the interior of the apartment, which is on the 54th floor of the building, show the “dilapidation and decay” described in the lawsuit: a dirty bathtub, stained carpets, peeling paint, gaping holes in the ceiling and more.
The complaint adds that the apartment has unrepaired water damage “that is so severe that it poses risks to the concrete structure of the building,” facilitates the growth of mold and mildew, and actively endangers other apartments in the building.”
The skyscraper is also the site where musician Eric Clapton’s four-year-old son tragically fell from a 53rd-floor window.
A dirty bathtub in David Copperfield’s Manhattan penthouse
Extensive structural damage is shown, with huge holes in the roof.
David Copperfield, 67, bought the penthouse in October 1997 for about $7.4 million, according to the lawsuit.
The lawsuit accused Copperfield of causing an estimated $3 million in damage to the 15,000-square-foot unit and the homes of other tenants. The Independent reported.
“After trying to resolve this for years, the board had no choice but to take legal action,” board attorney Joshua Stricoff told DailyMail.com.
The lawsuit claims Copperfield is trying to sell the property, but says the condition of the unit “clearly violates” the board’s bylaws.
“As usual, Copperfield refuses to face the consequences of his actions and denies any responsibility for the damage he has caused to the building and his former neighbors,” the complaint says.
The carpet shows stains and mold.
Parts of the roof that are peeling off
Architects warn that damage threatens the structure of the building
The Gallery is located on East 57th Street
Copperfield purchased the penthouse in October 1997 for about $7.4 million, the lawsuit says.
A representative for Copperfield told The Independent that the photos included in the lawsuit “do not reflect the current state of the apartment,” adding that the matter will be resolved in court.
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