A luxury Upper East Side townhouse valued at roughly $13 million has become the focus of a contentious legal dispute following the death of its owner, entrepreneur Craig Schmeizer.
According to court filings, the four-story limestone residence at 111 E. 81st St. is now tied up in Manhattan Supreme Court litigation between Schmeizer’s estate and his housekeeper, Hilarie Page. The estate alleges Page is unlawfully remaining in the property and preventing authorized representatives from entering.
Schmeizer, 52, died on Nov. 20, 2025. His estranged wife, neurologist Sarah Shalev, is identified in legal documents as trustee of the family trusts that control the property-owning entity, 111 NYC LLC, and as personal representative under his will. The complaint states that Page had been living in the home with Schmeizer’s permission but that her right to remain ended upon his death.
Estate filings describe repeated attempts to access the 6,650-square-foot property to secure and inventory assets, including valuable wine, artwork and financial documents. In an affidavit, Shalev alleged that a post-death phone call with Page became confrontational, with Page refusing to leave or provide entry.
Tensions escalated in early February when estate representatives arrived with a locksmith to enter the home. Court papers say Page confronted them, and police were called to the scene. Officers ultimately instructed the estate’s team to leave, leaving the ownership group without access.
Broader Implications
Legal observers note that disputes involving licensees — individuals permitted to occupy property without a formal lease — can become complicated after an owner’s death. Even when permission is believed to have ended, removal often requires court action.
“This type of case underscores how informal housing arrangements can create significant legal exposure for estates,” said a New York real estate attorney familiar with similar disputes.
The estate argues the situation is creating financial and insurance risks. Filings warn that the townhouse’s insurance coverage is conditional on a prompt inspection. One insurer reportedly declined to write a policy, while another quoted coverage in the range of $135,000 annually.
Without access, attorneys warned the court, the property could be left uninsured and unable to be prepared for sale. The estate says the home generates no income and must eventually be sold to cover carrying costs.
The LLC is asking the court to compel access, prevent removal of any property inside and award approximately $49,000 per month in use-and-occupancy payments until possession is restored.
Neither Page nor Shalev has publicly commented on the dispute.
As the case proceeds, it highlights the high stakes that can arise when estate management, luxury real estate and informal living arrangements collide in New York’s competitive property market.