Scores of Bronx tenants lost their rights over the last year and they probably didn’t even know it.

That’s because a Bronx Supreme Court judge, Sallie Manzanet, prevented community organizers from entering five neglected buildings, negotiating with banks to enforce the good repair clause of mortgage contracts, or even discussing the problem buildings with the city’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD).

The case has its roots in an electrical fire that claimed the life of 7-year-old Jashawn Parker, a Norwood resident, in 2002. The building where he lived with his father and brother, 3569 DeKalb Ave., had racked up more than 300 housing code violations. Tenants had spent two years in housing court with little to show for it.

As organizers with the Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition began to help the tenants get an outside administrator appointed to run the building, they learned that another troubled building, 15-19 West Mosholu Parkway, was connected to Frank Palazzolo, as were nearly 100 other Bronx buildings. They began to organize tenants in the buildings, meet with Washington Mutual Bank, the mortgagee for many of the properties, and work with HPD.

That’s when two of the property managers (they claim to be the landlords but mortgage records point to Palazzolo) sued the Coalition and another Bronx nonprofit, the Highbridge Community Life Center. A Westchester judge issued a restraining order against the groups, who then argued for a change of venue to the Bronx. They won that motion but Manzanet kept in place the restraining orders.

The plaintiffs preposterously claimed that the Coalition wanted to take over the buildings, even though they have owned no property in their 30-year history. It’s a sloppy case and its sole purpose is to frighten community organizations from doing the critical work that has for decades saved buildings, blocks and whole neighborhoods.

Even if the Coalition wins, the suit has already had the desired effect of chilling the organizing and advocacy work that is the last defense against negligent landlords.

At a court hearing last week, Manzanet lifted a restraining order blocking the Coalition from talking to Washington Mutual, but they have been unable to talk to the bank about any building for the last year, even ones not part of the lawsuit.

The organization has stopped organizing in the Palazzolo buildings, meaning that few if any of them have a viable tenant organization. This, despite HPD’s determination that Palazzolo is one of the city’s worst landlords.

Manzanet has seen for herself the conditions in the five buildings. At last week’s court hearing she dressed down plaintiff Steven Tobia, who manages four of the buildings, and his lawyer, Robert Gottlieb. “What this court saw has not been forgotten,” she said. “I will go back [to the buildings]. They better be fixed.”

That’s all well and good, but the greater meaning of this case is not how the judge eventually rules, but that she handcuffed community organizations from providing critical assistance to tenants in need.

The next time a landlord sues a community organization, will they settle quickly and withdraw from the buildings they were organizing in? Or will they even enter the building of a notorious, but powerful, slumlord in the first place?

This case has not gotten the attention it deserves. Aside from the parties in the suit, the courtroom was empty last week.

There are at least four more court dates in January and February before Manzanet rules.  Those who care about tenants’ rights should be there to send their own message to negligent landlords that they will not be cowed.