They lied to prospective buyers about how well Soho was selling, that's all. New York law might allow that to be a misdemeanor, but it's not a serious crime.

"Let the buyer beware" is the caveat of real estate deals, and lets most sellers off the hook in representing their properties' values. And the freedom to sell properties at any price regardless of bank appraisal values is the other bottom line in the real estate business.

So lying about the whole building's sell rate is part of the game of valuing any particular units to buyers.

Letting the kids off isn't reason enough to mistrust Cy Vance. He just knows real estate.

I prefer to think he didn't issue subpoenas as a cautionary measure, not second guessing any judge's interpretation of a stay's scope.