A $13 million Upper East Side townhouse has become the center of a bitter legal showdown after its wealthy owner’s death — and now his estranged wife and his longtime housekeeper are battling it out in court.
The four-story limestone mansion at 111 E. 81st St. was purchased in March 2022 by mattress entrepreneur Craig Schmeizer. The 6,650-square-foot home boasts five bedrooms and all the upscale features Manhattan buyers dream about — except peace and quiet.
Schmeizer, 52, died on Nov. 20, 2025. Since then, the luxury property has been locked in a legal fight between his estranged wife, Sarah Shalev, and his housekeeper, Hilarie Page, who is accused of refusing to leave the home and blocking estate representatives from entering.
The townhouse is owned by 111 NYC LLC, whose members are two family trusts. Shalev, 45, is the trustee of those trusts and is also listed in court filings as the personal representative under Schmeizer’s will.
According to a complaint filed in Manhattan Supreme Court, Page was allowed to live in the home as a “licensee” with Schmeizer’s permission. The estate argues that arrangement ended when he died.
“By reason of the termination of her license … Page has no right to use or occupy any portion of the Building,” the complaint states.
The estate alleges that since Schmeizer’s death, Shalev and her representatives have repeatedly tried to gain access to the property — but Page has refused to provide a key or let anyone inside.
In an affidavit, Shalev described a tense phone call with Page shortly after Schmeizer’s death.
“She was extremely hostile, told me she was not going to leave the house because Craig was dead and it was clear that I would not be allowed into the Building,” Shalev said.
After months of unanswered letters from attorneys and a townhouse that appeared dark from the outside, Shalev and a legal representative showed up in early February to try to enter.
“We rang the doorbell many times, pounded on the door and even threw snowballs at windows to get the attention of anybody who might be inside,” Shalev wrote.
When no one responded, they called a locksmith. Court papers say that once the door was opened, Page allegedly ran toward it screaming. Police were called, and officers ultimately instructed the estate’s representatives to leave.
The estate says the standoff is now putting valuable assets at risk inside the home.
Court filings state that a wine cellar stocked with high-value bottles needs to be inventoried and monitored for climate control. Artwork must be cataloged for estate and insurance purposes. Financial records and other important documents must be reviewed. There is also a need to search for any updated will.
The estate further argues that the property generates no income and must be sold — a process that requires access for brokers, inspectors and appraisers.
Complicating matters, the mortgage holder has reportedly notified the estate that the townhouse’s insurance policy expired. The estate says it was able to secure temporary coverage, but only if the property is inspected within 14 days — access that it claims Page continues to block.
An email filed in court shows that one insurer declined coverage entirely, while another quoted a premium of roughly $135,000 and requested contact information for whoever could grant inspection access.
Without that inspection, the estate’s attorney warned the court, the building could become uninsured.
In addition to asking a judge to force access and prevent any removal of property, the LLC is seeking compensation for what it calls the “reasonable value” of the home’s use and occupancy — calculated at $49,000 per month from the date of Schmeizer’s death until the estate regains possession.
Throw her out to the street by whatever force is needed!