Residential
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July 10, 2024
Wash. Condo Assoc. Wants Allstate To Cover $9.7M In Repairs
A Washington condominium association is suing Allstate Insurance Co. in federal court, saying it broke their coverage agreement by refusing to cover $9.7 million in repairs for "hidden damage" to the buildings' exteriors.
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July 10, 2024
CFPB Pitches Plan To 'Streamline' Mortgage Servicing Rules
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau said Wednesday that it wants to revamp its mortgage servicing rules to make it faster and easier for struggling homeowners to access forbearance and other relief options, proposing changes that draw in part on lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic.
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July 10, 2024
Cushman's Retail Leader Talks Malls' Evolution
What do a pickleball court, a beer garden, a boxing ring and a hospital have in common? Depending on where you are in the U.S., you may come across any one of these at your local shopping mall, said Cushman & Wakefield's retail practice group leader.
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July 09, 2024
Manhattan Borough Prez Seeks Changes In NYC Housing Plan
Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine detailed proposed changes Tuesday for New York City Mayor Eric Adams' "City of Yes for Housing Opportunity" affordable housing plan, including a sunset on simplified office-to-residential conversions.
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July 09, 2024
Tampa Atty Accused Of Fraud In Long-Running House Dispute
A Tampa-area estate lawyer has been accused of fraud conspiracy in a state court lawsuit brought by a former tax attorney who alleges that her house was taken to collect fees stemming from a false guardianship case, saying a court order that revoked possession of the property violated the Florida Constitution.
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July 09, 2024
Fund Scores $83M For Workforce Housing Investments
Clear Investment Group raised more than $83 million for a fund that aims to "maximize investor value through the stabilization of distressed workforce housing," the multifamily real estate investment firm said Tuesday.
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July 09, 2024
REIT Closes On Ground Leases For Calif. Affordable Projects
Real estate investment trust Safehold Inc. announced that the company has closed on ground leases for the development of four affordable housing communities in Santa Clara, California, and Concord, California.
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July 09, 2024
2 Firms Guide Bain Capital Investment In Resi Lender
Dechert LLP and Irella & Manella LLP oversaw Bain Capital's purchase of a controlling stake in residential lender Archwest Capital, a deal that will see Archwest's management retain a significant minority stake, per a statement from the investor.
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July 09, 2024
Fla. Agrees To Stronger CWA Protections For Piney Point Site
Conservation groups said they've reached an agreement with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to settle litigation over a phosphogypsum facility in Manatee County, with state regulators agreeing to a draft Clean Water Act permit for the site.
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July 08, 2024
SD Homeowners Want Quick Win For Underground Mine Suit
A proposed class of South Dakota homeowners pushed for a quick win in a suit accusing South Dakota of leaving behind a 40-foot underground gypsum mine that's causing their properties to fall into holes and other property damage.
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July 08, 2024
Fried Frank Guides $295M Financing For Kushner's NJ Project
Real estate developer and manager Kushner Cos. LLC obtained $295 million in construction financing for the second phase of its 1,723-unit, mixed-use skyscraper project in Jersey City, New Jersey, in a loan deal advised by Fried Frank Harris Shriver & Jacobson LLP, the firm said on Monday.
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July 08, 2024
Philly Charter School Exec Sentenced To 1½ Years In Prison
Shahied Dawan, a former nonprofit executive for a Philadelphia charter school and low-income housing nonprofit founded by R&B producer Kenny Gamble, was sentenced to 18 months in prison Monday for conspiring to conceal embezzlement from the organization.
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July 08, 2024
Feds Aim To Expand Military Site List For Land Deal Reviews
The U.S. Department of the Treasury on Monday proposed putting 59 more military sites on its radar when it reviews real estate deals for national security issues, a move that comes on the heels of the White House's crackdown on a Chinese-owned cryptocurrency mine near a Wyoming air base.
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July 08, 2024
Frost Brown Adds Former Solo Land Use Atty In Calif.
Frost Brown Todd LLP has brought on a former solo practitioner and veteran California attorney with expertise in the state's environmental quality act in the firm's San Francisco office, the firm announced Monday.
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July 08, 2024
Calif. Realtor Sued Over Use Of Kanye West's Ranch Photos
A real estate photographer has accused a property listings site in California federal court of stealing his photos of a Hidden Hills, California, ranch home that used to be owned by controversial rap artist Kanye West.
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July 08, 2024
Feds Say Petersen Bid Won't Cover HUD-Backed Loans
The federal government Monday filed an objection to Petersen Health Care's proposed facilities sale, saying the $136 million in bids received by the company is insufficient to cover the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development-backed mortgages on the properties.
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July 05, 2024
How Reshaped Circuit Courts Are Faring At The High Court
Seminal rulings from the U.S. Supreme Court's latest term will reshape many facets of American society in the coming years. Already, however, the rulings offer glimpses of how the justices view specific circuit courts, which have themselves been reshaped by an abundance of new judges.
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July 05, 2024
Breaking Down The Vote: The High Court Term In Review
The U.S. Supreme Court's lethargic pace of decision-making this term left the justices to issue a slew of highly anticipated and controversial rulings during the term's final week — rulings that put the court's ideological divisions on vivid display. Here, Law360 takes a data dive into the numbers behind this court term.
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July 05, 2024
High Court Flexes Muscle To Limit Administrative State
The U.S. Supreme Court's dismantling of a 40-year-old judicial deference doctrine, coupled with rulings stripping federal agencies of certain enforcement powers and exposing them to additional litigation, has established the October 2023 term as likely the most consequential in administrative law history.
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July 05, 2024
The Sharpest Dissents From The Supreme Court Term
The U.S. Supreme Court's session ended with a series of blockbuster cases that granted the president broad immunity, changed federal gun policy and kneecapped administrative agencies. And many of the biggest decisions fell along partisan lines.
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July 05, 2024
5 Moments That Shaped The Supreme Court's Jan. 6 Decision
When the high court limited the scope of a federal obstruction statute used to charge hundreds of rioters who stormed the Capitol, the justices did not vote along ideological lines. In a year marked by 6-3 splits, what accounts for the departure? Here are some moments from oral arguments that may have swayed the justices.
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July 05, 2024
The Funniest Moments Of The Supreme Court's Term
In a U.S. Supreme Court term teeming with serious showdowns, the august air at oral arguments filled with laughter after an attorney mentioned her plastic surgeon and a justice seemed to diss his colleagues, to cite just two of the term's mirthful moments. Here, we look at the funniest moments of the term.
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July 05, 2024
Trade Groups Sue Denver Over Gas Stove Ban
A coalition of trade groups representing the restaurant, home construction, rental housing and propane gas industries have claimed in Colorado federal court that two Denver ordinances that restrict the use of gas appliances can't be enforced because they're preempted by federal law.
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July 05, 2024
NC Construction Co. Says Subcontractor Pocketed Payments
A construction company was duped into offering a lighting firm at least eight contracts for electrical work on projects in the Carolinas valued at over $13 million only for the firm to abruptly fold before the work was finished, according to a newly filed state court complaint.
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July 05, 2024
Landfill Cos., La. Parish Score Partial Win In Landfill Suit
The operators of a Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, landfill and the parish itself have partially defeated claims filed in Louisiana federal court by local residents who say the landfill's "harmful and toxic odors and chemicals" caused them breathing problems, nausea and poor quality of life.
No Respite For Sunbelt In Nationwide Apartment Permit Drop
The number of permits issued to developers of multifamily housing in the first half of 2024 marked a nearly 30% dip from levels seen during the same period in 2021, 2022 and 2023, according to a report released by Redfin on Tuesday.
Real Estate Attys Pore Over Housing Dollars In NYC Budget
The New York City Council approved a $112.4 billion budget on June 30, just one day before the deadline, and while the full budget breakdown has not yet been made public, counsel for real estate developers say the funds could help alleviate the housing development backlog, if used well.
Tenants Say Omaha Housing Authority Flouted Appeal Rights
A proposed class of Omaha Housing Authority tenants have filed suit against the public housing entity, telling a Nebraska federal court the agency overcharged extremely low-income tenants and thwarted their right to appeal rent increases.
Expert Analysis
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Solving Puzzles Makes Me A Better Lawyer
Tackling daily puzzles — like Wordle, KenKen and Connections — has bolstered my intellectual property litigation practice by helping me to exercise different mental skills, acknowledge minor but important details, and build and reinforce good habits, says Roy Wepner at Kaplan Breyer.
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Realtor Settlement May Create New Antitrust Pitfalls
Following a recent antitrust settlement between the National Association of Realtors and home sellers, practices are set to change and the increased competition may benefit both brokers and homebuyers, but the loss of the customary method of buyer broker compensation could lead to new antitrust concerns, says Colin Ahler at Snell & Wilmer.
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What Fla. Ruling Means For Insurer Managed Repair Programs
A recent Florida state court ruling in Fraga v. Citizens Property Insurance, holding that the insurer could not seek to add additional terms in its managed repair program consent form, should promote clear written contract terms that clarify the relationship between insurers, policyholders and contractors, says Chip Merlin at Merlin Law Group.
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Preparing For CFPB 'Junk Fee' Push Into Mortgage Industry
As the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau considers expanding its "junk fee" initiative into mortgage closing costs, mortgage lenders and third parties must develop plans now that anticipate potential rulemaking or enforcement activity in this space, say attorneys at Morgan Lewis.
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After Chevron: Opportunities For Change In FHFA Practices
The U.S. Supreme Court's overturning of the Chevron doctrine should lead to better cooperation between the Federal Housing Finance Agency and Congress, and may give the FHFA a chance to embrace transparency and innovation and promote sustainable housing practices, says Mehdi Sinaki at Michelman & Robinson.
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NC Banking Brief: All The Notable Legal Updates In Q2
After federal banking agencies last quarter released a supplemental final rule updating the Community Reinvestment Act, North Carolina banks involved in community development should consider how the new rule might open up opportunities for investment and services that can benefit underserved areas, says Adam Goldblatt at Michael Best.
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Boxing Makes Me A Better Lawyer
Boxing has influenced my legal work by enabling me to confidently hone the skills I've learned from the sport, like the ability to remain calm under pressure, evaluate an opponent's weaknesses and recognize when to seize an important opportunity, says Kirsten Soto at Clyde & Co.
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What NYC's Green Fast Track Means For Affordable Housing
New York City's Green Fast Track for Housing initiative, which went into effect last month, aims to speed up the environmental review process for modest residential developments and could potentially pave the way for similar initiatives in other cities, say Vivien Krieger and Rachel Scall at Cozen O'Connor.
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The Often Overlooked NY Foreclosure Notice Requirements
As multifamily real estate defaults mount, New York foreclosing parties should be aware of pitfalls and perils that can await the litigant who is not prepared to ensure adherence with tenant notice requirements under the Real Property Actions and Proceedings Law, say Christopher Gorman and John Muldoon at Rosenberg & Estis.
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Skiing And Surfing Make Me A Better Lawyer
The skills I’ve learned while riding waves in the ocean and slopes in the mountains have translated to my legal career — developing strong mentor relationships, remaining calm in difficult situations, and being prepared and able to move to a backup plan when needed, says Brian Claassen at Knobbe Martens.
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Zoning Reform May Alleviate The Affordable Housing Crisis
As America's affordable housing issues continue to worsen, zoning reform efforts can help to provide more affordable homes and mitigate racial and economic segregation, though opposition from residents and in courts could present challenges, say Evan Pritchard and Madeline Williams at Cozen O'Connor.
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NJ Justices Clarify First-Party Indemnification Availability
In Boyle v. Huff, the New Jersey Supreme Court recently held that indemnification can be available in first-party claims, resolving an open question and setting up contracting parties for careful negotiations around indemnity clauses, says Todd Leon at Marshall Dennehey.
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Fla. HOA Reforms Bring Major Wins For Homeowners
A recently signed law brings broad changes for homeowners associations in Florida, alleviating some pressure imposed by overly restrictive rules and potentially setting up litigation surrounding how HOAs enforce their governing documents, says Christopher Miller at Varnum.