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os Angeles Angels owner Arte Moreno is facing a costly dispute over a failed real estate deal at New York's 520 Park Avenue. In 2017, Moreno and his wife put down an $8.5 million deposit on a penthouse unit, but backed out of the purchase just days before closing in 2019 due to concerns about noise from a neighboring mechanical room. The developer, Arthur Zeckendorf, sold the unit to another buyer in 2022 for $37.5 million.

    Zeckendorf is now suing Moreno and his wife for $10 million, claiming they refused to close on the deal without justification. The Morenos have countersued for $8.5 million, seeking reimbursement of their deposit. After two years, the case is finally heading to trial after a federal judge denied Zeckendorf's motion for summary judgment.

    The dispute centers around whether the noise from the mechanical room infringed on the Morenos' "quiet enjoyment" of the condo. The Morenos had expressed concerns about the sound during a visit and were allegedly assured that measures would be taken to address the issue. However, they claimed that the problem persisted when they declined to close on the purchase.

    Zeckendorf's new counsel has vowed to enforce the defendants' contractual obligations and secure an "exceptionally favorable outcome" for their client. An attorney representing the Morenos did not comment on the matter. The 35-unit building at 520 Park Avenue, designed by Robert A.M. Stern, features high-profile buyers including former UFC owner Frank Fertitta and billionaire investment banker Ken Moelis.