Residential
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May 07, 2024
Contract's 1-Year Limit Doesn't Block NC Mold Claims
A North Carolina appeals court on Tuesday reinstated a couple's suit against a contractor they say failed to remediate water and mold damage in their house, saying the trial court was wrong to find that the contract's one-year limitation on claims applied to the state's Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices Act.
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May 07, 2024
Ore. Tax Court Drops Values Of Residential Parcels
The Oregon Tax Court ruled that the real market values of two parcels teed up for a residential subdivision should be lowered after agreeing with the owner's comparable sales study and development cost analysis.
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May 07, 2024
Colo. House OKs Conservation Easement Tax Break Extension
Colorado would extend its conservation easement tax credit through 2031 and raise its statewide annual cap on available credits under legislation approved Tuesday by the state House of Representatives.
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May 07, 2024
NY State, Cities Urge Tossing Challenge To Rent Law Tweak
Two upstate municipalities separately urged a New York federal court to dismiss a suit challenging a December amendment to the rent stabilization laws, arguing the particulars of their recent attempts to adopt rent stabilization undermine the landlords' claims.
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May 07, 2024
Colo. Senate Approves Property Tax Cuts
Colorado would extend temporary property tax rate reductions into 2024 and set lower rates for future years under bipartisan legislation passed Tuesday by the state Senate that is forecast to save property owners nearly $1 billion in its first year if enacted.
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May 07, 2024
DLA Piper Pads Real Estate Group With New Chicago Partner
DLA Piper has added a partner to the firm's real estate practice group who will join from Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP, saying the new hire's expertise spans asset classes and deal types.
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May 06, 2024
Housing Nonprofits Sue Over Fla. Land-Buying Law
Florida's S.B. 246 violates the Fair Housing Act and the state's constitution by restricting the land purchases of Chinese citizens and others, according to a suit filed Monday by multiple fair housing nonprofits, a group representing real estate professionals and a Florida real estate brokerage.
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May 06, 2024
NJ Subdivision Assessment Spike Should Remain, Court Says
The property value of a city block bought and developed in New Jersey increased correctly based on the subdivision, the state Tax Court ruled, rejecting the property owner's argument that the assessment was wrong because the city forgot to set the new property lines.
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May 06, 2024
Redfin To Pay $9.2M To Exit Broker Fee Class Action
Redfin disclosed to regulators on Monday that it will pay $9.25 million to end claims that it caused home sellers to pay inflated commissions under rules set by the National Association of Realtors, allowing the company to exit a class action that ensnared several brokerage firms.
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May 06, 2024
Data Privacy Co. Wants Personal Info Suits In NJ State Court
Most of the recently moved lawsuits alleging violations of a New Jersey judicial privacy law should be moved back to state court since the plaintiffs and defendants reside in the Garden State, the data privacy company behind the first-of-their-kind cases has told a New Jersey federal judge.
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May 03, 2024
Freddie Mac, Insurer Settle $32M SEC Probe Coverage Dispute
Government-backed lender Freddie Mac told a Washington, D.C., federal court Friday that it has settled with an insurer in a $32 million coverage suit stemming from civil actions and federal probes around its collapse during the 2008 global financial crisis.
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May 03, 2024
Opendoor Says NAR Settlement Should Aid Growth Efforts
Leadership for Opendoor Technologies Inc. said they expect the online home-selling platform will benefit from the recent proposed legal settlement involving the National Association of Realtors as they expressed confidence in plans to "rescale" their business this year, while discussing the release of its first-quarter earnings.
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May 03, 2024
Realtors Set Aug. Launch Of Broker Fee Changes After Verdict
The National Association of Realtors on Friday said it has adopted a series of policy changes that go into effect Aug. 17 under a settlement to avoid a jury verdict finding the trade group's rules compelled home sellers to pay inflated commissions.
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May 03, 2024
Judge Says Lender Can't Escape CFPB's Loan Data Suit
A Florida federal judge has refused to dismiss the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's suit accusing mortgage servicer and lender Freedom Mortgage Corp. of violating federal law by submitting inaccurate government mortgage loan data.
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May 03, 2024
Brothers Accuse Cos. Of Mishandling $1.1M EB-5 Investments
Two brothers from India sued companies behind a combination residential-resort project they invested in under the EB-5 investor visa program, telling a Florida federal court that their green card petitions were denied because the companies mishandled their $1.1 million investment.
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May 03, 2024
Akerman Hires Miami-Dade Atty As Chair Of Land Use Team
Akerman LLP hired Dennis A. Kerbel, a veteran Miami-Dade County, Florida, government attorney, as the new chair of its land use and entitlements team in its Miami office, the firm announced.
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May 03, 2024
Stockbridge Real Estate Fund Raises $709M
San Francisco-based Stockbridge Capital Group said Friday that it had closed on a real estate investment fund with $709 million in commitments last month, the largest in its history.
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May 02, 2024
USAA Wrongly Denied Fire Damage Claim, Wash. Couple Says
A Washington couple accused their homeowners insurer of unreasonably denying their fire damage claim despite their timely response to all of the insurer's claim inquiries and requests, further accusing the insurer of violating Washington's Consumer Protection Act and Insurance Fair Conduct Act.
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May 02, 2024
Kushner-Owned Co. Owes $15M For Scrapped Apartment Deal
A New Jersey appeals panel has ordered a company owned by Kushner Cos. LLC to pay $15 million to real estate sellers in a $186 million deal that fell apart during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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May 02, 2024
Split Conn. Supreme Court Says No To 'Ratio' Utility Bills
In a rare 4-3 opinion, the Connecticut Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that a corporate landlord cannot use a ratio utility billing system to divide monthly costs among units not equipped with precise individual meters, stressing a legislative policy of protecting tenants from fluctuating fees beyond their immediate control.
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May 02, 2024
Simpson Thacher Adds Real Estate Partner In NY
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP said on May 2 that it has hired Aron M. Zuckerman, an attorney with experience advising lenders in financing real estate projects, as a partner in its New York office.
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May 02, 2024
GTIS Expands JV With Homebuilder To $6B Worth Of Housing
GTIS Partners has grown its partnership with homebuilder Hovnanian Enterprises to now build $6 billion worth of homes, including new construction in Florida and New Jersey, the companies announced May 2.
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May 02, 2024
Eckert Seamans Sues For Inclusive Zoning Fight Fees
Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott says a group representing Pittsburgh-area developers still owes nearly $76,000 in legal fees for the firm's work on a federal suit challenging an "inclusive zoning" ordinance, according to a complaint filed in Pennsylvania state court Thursday.
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May 02, 2024
Nixon Peabody Adds Two Community Finance Attys In DC
Nixon Peabody LLP has hired two partners, who will focus their practices on helping nonprofits and other clients understand and obtain tax credits for a range of community development projects, to its community development finance practice in Washington, D.C., the firm announced Thursday.
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May 01, 2024
Ex-State Dept. Adviser To Co-Lead Klasko's Investor Visa Team
A former U.S. Department of State attorney-adviser has left government service to co-lead Klasko Immigration Law Partners' EB-5 regional center and developer practice, the firm recently announced.
Expert Analysis
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Home Equity Option Contracts Appear Ripe For Rating
Given that home equity option contracts share similarities with evolving asset types like litigation funding, and that courts continue to characterize them as real estate option contracts, it seems they are poised to be rated in the near future, say Darius Horton and Holly Spencer Bunting at Mayer Brown.
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5 Management Tips To Keep Law Firm Merger Talks Moving
Many law firm mergers that make solid business sense still fall apart due to the costs and frustrations of inefficient negotiations, but firm managers can increase the chance of success by effectively planning and executing merger discussions, say Lisa Smith and Kristin Stark at Fairfax Associates.
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2 Critical Shortfalls In Fla. Condo Safety Amendments
New amendments to Florida's Building Safety Act provide condominium associations with more flexibility to comply with inspection deadlines, but vaguely defined extension criteria and unambiguous lines of responsibility warrant further legislative action, say Jordan Isrow and Andrew Ingber at Government Law Group.
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Rethinking In-Office Attendance For Associate Retention
The hybrid office attendance model doesn't work for all employees, but it does for many — and balancing these two groups is important for associate retention and maintaining a BigLaw firm culture that supports all attorneys, says Summer Eberhard at Major Lindsey.
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Justices' Minn. Takings Ruling May Have Broad Impact
The U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Tyler v. Hennepin County that a Minnesota tax foreclosure violated the U.S. Constitution's takings clause may, beyond resolving a circuit split, influence well-established foreclosure laws across the U.S., say Emily Ladd and Gregory Nowak at Miller Canfield.
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Murdaugh Trials Offer Law Firms Fraud Prevention Reminders
As the fraud case against Alex Murdaugh continues to play out, the evidence and narrative presented at his murder trial earlier this year may provide lessons for law firms on implementing robust internal controls that can detect and prevent similar kinds of fraud, say Travis Casner and Helga Zauner at Weaver and Tidwell.
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Challenging Standing In Antitrust Class Actions: Rule 23
A recent Sixth Circuit decision in Fox v. Saginaw County that rejected the common attempt to use Rule 23 to sidestep Article III's standing limitations shows antitrust defendants' success in challenging standing will rest on happenstance without more clarity from the Supreme Court — which no litigant should be comfortable with, say Michael Hamburger and Holly Tao at White & Case.
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Key Limited Partnership Provisions During Market Downturns
With a recession potentially on the horizon, fund managers should carefully examine their funds' limited partnership agreements for items that may be affected by economic downturns, and assess whether modifications may be appropriate, says Matthew Posthuma at Ropes & Gray.
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Firm Tips For Helping New Lawyers Succeed Post-Pandemic
Ten steps can help firms significantly enhance the experience of attorneys who started their careers in the coronavirus pandemic era, including facilitating opportunities for cross-firm connection, which can ultimately help build momentum for business development, says Lana Manganiello at Equinox Strategy Partners.
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Fla. Foreign Real Estate Law Brings Broad Investment Risks
Last month, Florida became the latest state to enact legislation prohibiting Chinese investors from acquiring certain interests in real property, introducing significant legal uncertainty and consequences for real estate stakeholders and the private equity industry, say attorneys at Simpson Thacher.
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Prepping Your Business Ahead Of Affirmative Action Ruling
The U.S. Supreme Court's upcoming ruling on whether race should play a role in college admissions could potentially end affirmative action, and companies will need a considered approach to these circumstances that protects their brand power and future profits, and be prepared to answer tough questions, say Nadine Blackburn at United Minds and Eric Blankenbaker at Weber Shandwick.
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Tackling Judge-Shopping Concerns While Honoring Localism
As the debate continues over judge-shopping and case assignments in federal court, policymakers should look to a hybrid model that preserves the benefits of localism for those cases that warrant it, while preventing the appearance of judge-shopping for cases of a more national or widespread character, says Joshua Sohn at the U.S. Department of Justice.
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How Attorneys Can Help Combat Anti-Asian Hate
Amid an exponential increase in violence against Asian American and Pacific Islander communities, unique obstacles stand in the way of accountability and justice — but lawyers can effect powerful change by raising awareness, offering legal representation, advocating for victims’ rights and more, say attorneys at Gibson Dunn.