A legal battle has erupted over a $13.2 million Upper East Side townhouse once owned by late mattress entrepreneur Craig Schmeizer, with his estranged spouse, Sarah Shalev, taking court action against a woman she claims is refusing to vacate the property.
The four-story limestone mansion at 111 East 81st Street, from Park Avenue and a short walk from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, was purchased in March 2022. Since Schmeizer’s death in November 2025 at the age of 52, the luxury residence has reportedly remained dark and largely inaccessible — except, according to court filings, for one occupant.
At the center of the dispute is Hilarie Page, a housekeeper who allegedly moved into the home after Schmeizer and Shalev separated.
Shalev, who serves as trustee of the family trusts controlling the LLC that owns the townhouse and as the personal representative under Schmeizer’s will, claims Page no longer has the legal right to remain in the property.
In her complaint, Shalev argues that Page was permitted to stay at the residence solely through Schmeizer’s consent — a license that, she contends, automatically ended upon his death.
The lawsuit states that despite repeated efforts, Page has allegedly refused to provide keys or allow estate representatives access to the building.
The situation escalated earlier this month. On February 5, Shalev arrived at the townhouse, accompanied by an attorney in an attempt to enter the property.
According to an affidavit, they rang the doorbell multiple times, pounded on the door, and even tossed snowballs at the windows in an effort to determine whether anyone was inside.
When no one responded, a locksmith was called to open the door. Court papers claim that once access was gained, Page ran toward the entrance, screaming and denying them entry. Police were contacted, and officers ultimately instructed the estate representatives to leave.
Shalev’s filing describes the standoff as more than a simple occupancy issue. The estate alleges it has been blocked from retrieving valuable assets inside the home, including artwork, financial documents, family heirlooms, and a wine collection that requires climate monitoring.
The complaint also notes the need to search for any updated estate documents and to inventory items for insurance purposes.
Financial pressures are adding urgency to the case. According to court submissions, the property does not generate income and requires ongoing maintenance, mortgage payments, and insurance coverage.
The estate reportedly received notice that the existing insurance policy had expired and that new coverage — quoted at a premium exceeding $100,000 — would require a timely inspection of the home.
Shalev argues that continued denial of access could leave the multimillion-dollar townhouse uninsured and further complicate plans to sell the property.
The estate is now seeking court orders to compel access, prevent removal of assets, and recover what it calculates as the reasonable value of use and occupancy — estimated at $49,000 per month from the date of Schmeizer’s death.
As the case unfolds in Manhattan Supreme Court, the once-quiet Upper East Side mansion has become the focal point of a high-stakes estate dispute — one that places Craig Schmeizer’s wife, Sarah Shalev, at the center of a contentious legal fight over control of the late entrepreneur’s final residence.
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