Be Glad Madonna Isn’t a Shareholder in Your Co-op

Pop superstars are different from the rest of us. If you doubt this, look no further than the latest court filing by Madonna, who claims that she should be exempt from a co-op rule at One West 64th Street that says shareholders must be present when family members and staff are in residence at the tony Central Park West address.

According to Manhattan Supreme Court papers acquired by the New York Post, Madonna claims that the co-op board knew who she was when she bought an apartment in 2004: “At that time I was, and still am, a world-known performing artist.” She bought a second unit in 2008. In 2014 the board changed the rules, stating that children, staff and guests cannot use an apartment unless the shareholder is present. Madonna's lawsuit claims the policy violates a state “roommate law.” No other shareholders have complained about the policy, but, then again, they're not pop superstars.

Madonna has four children, aged 11 to 19. She sold one of her units at One West 64th in 2013, after a neighbor sued over noise caused by parties. The remaining apartment, Madonna says, “is a place I call home.”