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Real Estate
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September 04, 2024
McElroy Deutsch's Former CFO Fights Bid To Sink Ch. 11 Case
The currently incarcerated former chief financial officer for McElroy Deutsch Mulvaney & Carpenter LLP denied that his Chapter 11 filing was a bad faith maneuver meant to stall ongoing civil litigation, claiming instead that the bankruptcy will allow for the liquidation of property for the benefit of creditors.
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September 04, 2024
Mass. Tax Panel OKs Nix Of Value Cut On Renovated Housing
The owner of a Massachusetts apartment building that contains a commercial space was unable to have the property's valuation reduced because its evidence of comparable sales didn't account for differences in the properties, the state Appellate Tax Board affirmed.
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September 04, 2024
Simpson Thacher-Led Blackstone Inks $16.2B AirTrunk Deal
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP-led Blackstone Inc. said Wednesday it has agreed to acquire AirTrunk, an Australia-based data center platform focused on the Asia-Pacific region, from Macquarie Asset Management and the Public Sector Pension Investment Board at an implied enterprise value of over AU$24 billion ($16.2 billion).
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September 03, 2024
5th Circ. Panel Pushes Plaintiff Groups In Oil Terminal Row
A Fifth Circuit panel seemed wary of a claim by several groups who argued they hadn't forfeited arguments relating to vessel traffic on Texas' Gulf Coast, saying during oral arguments last week that the group's brief didn't include anything about forfeiture.
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September 03, 2024
7th Circ. Upholds Arbitration In Menards Hidden Fees Suit
The Seventh Circuit on Tuesday upheld a decision to compel arbitration in a proposed class action claiming that home improvement retailer Menards used a hidden pickup service fee to manipulate its prices, saying the company provided "reasonably conspicuous" notice of its terms on the page where the lead plaintiff completed her online order.
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September 03, 2024
Insurance Intermediary Can't Revive Biz Interference Claims
Liberty Mutual and two of its adjusters had no obligation to work with an intermediary that helps contractors secure coverage, an Ohio appeals court ruled, rejecting the intermediary's claims that Liberty and the adjusters tortiously interfered with the intermediary's business relationships by refusing to communicate with it.
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September 03, 2024
Ga. Minor Says Hotel Knew About Trafficking But Didn't Help
An Atlanta-based hotel and its management company were hit with a lawsuit in Georgia federal court for allegedly doing nothing to stop the sex trafficking of a 17-year-old girl despite managers' and hotel employees' knowledge of the situation.
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September 03, 2024
Colo. AG Says Tenants Can Sue Blackstone Over Lease Terms
Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser urged the state's Supreme Court on Friday to find that tenants can sue a group of Blackstone subsidiaries for deceptive trade practices over lease agreements that allegedly misrepresent the rights of tenants.
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September 03, 2024
9th Circ. Rejects Tax Lien Pro Rata Share In Bankruptcy Sale
The bankruptcy court is not authorized to use the pro rata method to allocate proceeds between the IRS and an estate with a tax lien for unpaid taxes and penalties, the Ninth Circuit ruled Tuesday, saying there is nothing in bankruptcy law that explicitly allows this approach.
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September 03, 2024
Ex-Miami Atty's Countersuit Tossed Due To Litigation Privilege
A Florida state judge has tossed an ex-Miami city attorney's countersuit against a constituent, saying her suit fighting real estate fraud allegations that she says led to her termination is barred by the state's litigation privilege doctrine in which absolute immunity protects certain statements made in court proceedings.
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September 03, 2024
Former Partner Of Bankrupt NC Firm Settles With Trustee
A former member of bankrupt North Carolina-based real estate law firm Washburn Law PLLC, which is being investigated by the FBI for millions of dollars in pilfered client money, has reached a settlement agreement with a court-appointed bankruptcy trustee.
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September 03, 2024
Catching Up With Delaware's Chancery Court
Last week in Delaware's court of equity, an iconic rock band got a new member, former President Donald Trump's social media company escaped a contempt ruling, and litigation grew over Illumina Inc.'s $8 billion reacquisition of cancer-testing company Grail Inc. New cases touched on intellectual property, mergers, share transfers and dump trucks. In case you missed it, here's the latest from Delaware's Court of Chancery.
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September 03, 2024
Former Aide To NY Gov. Indicted On Foreign Agent Charges
A former aide to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo was arrested Tuesday on allegations of secretly acting as an agent of China's government in a yearslong political conspiracy to promote the interests of the Chinese Communist Party and reap millions of dollars.
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August 30, 2024
Chancery Prunes $2.1M From Atty Fee Bid In Sculptor Merger
Class attorneys who helped secure a 14.4%, or $80.8 million, improvement in proceeds from Sculptor Capital Management's sale to Rithm Capital Corp. — plus a $6.5 million common fund — saw their $5.75 million fee proposal cut to $3.6 million in Delaware's Court of Chancery Friday.
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August 30, 2024
Partnership Can't Save Premature Tax Court Appeal, Feds Say
The IRS is urging the Eleventh Circuit to throw out a Tax Court appeal that a partnership formed by two former Atlanta Braves players filed over a slashed $47.6 million conservation easement deduction, since the appeal was improperly filed before a final decision was entered.
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August 30, 2024
Real Estate Recap: RealPage, Vacancies, New Construction
Catch up on this week's key developments by state from Law360 Real Estate Authority — including interpretation of the RealPage antitrust suit, the latest on U.S. office vacancies and plans for a new Miami tower.
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August 30, 2024
New York Code Council, Officials Duck Natural Gas Ban Suit
A New York federal court dropped the New York Department of State, the New York State Fire Prevention and Building Code Council and several state officials from trade groups' challenge to the state's recent ban on natural gas in new construction.
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August 30, 2024
Judge Unsure Warehouse Antitrust Suit Belongs In Fed. Court
An Illinois federal judge appeared skeptical Friday that a warehouse developer could unravel a municipal contract with several real estate companies accused of violating antitrust laws, questioning if the plaintiff was truly harmed by the deal or a related judgment its rivals later won in state court.
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August 30, 2024
Steward Says It Has Deal To Avert Some Hospital Closures
Bankrupt hospital operator Steward Health Care System has a tentative agreement that would eliminate over $6 billion of claims against it, keep the majority of its 31 hospitals operating while saving three from potential closure and set it on a path to confirm a Chapter 11 plan, attorneys told a Texas bankruptcy judge Friday.
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August 30, 2024
Feds Propose Tribal Oversight Of Utah National Monument
Nearly 2 million acres of public lands within Utah's Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument will be managed by a co-stewardship of tribal nations, with a focus on conservation and preservation, according to a proposed plan by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management.
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August 30, 2024
Condo Board Coverage Suit Over Maui Wildfire Gets Tossed
A Hawaii federal judge tossed an insurer's suit seeking to avoid representing a condo association and property manager after owners sent a letter blaming the association for illegally having insufficient insurance before the 2023 Maui wildfires decimated Lahaina, concluding matters were best left to Hawaii state court.
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August 30, 2024
UK Litigation Roundup: Here's What You Missed In London
This past week in London has seen television property developer Kambiz Babaee hit with a fraud claim, a Bitcoin podcaster reignite a dispute with Australian computer scientist Craig Wright and football club owner Massimo Cellino's company file a claim against ClearBank. Here, Law360 looks at these and other new claims in the U.K.
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August 30, 2024
Fall IPO Pickup Could Be A Prelude For 2025 Recovery
More companies are preparing to go public after Labor Day, signaling a modest increase in initial public offerings that capital markets advisers say could presage a stronger recovery in 2025, assuming next year brings more clarity regarding interest-rate policy and the result of the presidential election.
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August 29, 2024
'No Hesitation' On $7M Atty Fees For $10B Verdict, Judge Says
A California judge held up a phone book-sized printout Thursday of the 20-year docket for a case that resulted in a $10 billion verdict for four brothers who claim their real estate empire was stolen by another brother, and said she has "no hesitation" granting the plaintiff $7 million in attorney fees.
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August 29, 2024
PNC Asks 4th Circ. To Reconsider HELOC 'Offset' Ban Ruling
PNC Bank has asked the Fourth Circuit to take another look at its ruling that extended the "offset" provision of the Truth in Lending Act, which prevents banks from using funds held in deposit accounts to offset credit card debt without the consumer's consent, to home equity lines of credit.
Expert Analysis
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Think Like A Lawyer: Always Be Closing
When a lawyer presents their case with the right propulsive structure throughout trial, there is little need for further argument after the close of evidence — and in fact, rehashing it all may test jurors’ patience — so attorneys should consider other strategies for closing arguments, says Luke Andrews at Poole Huffman.
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How A Bumblebee Got Under Calif. Wildlife Regulator's Bonnet
A California bumblebee's listing as an endangered species could lead to a regulatory quagmire as California Department of Fish and Wildlife permits now routinely include survey requirements for the bee, but the regulator has yet to determine what the species needs for conservation, says David Smith at Manatt.
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The Clock Is Ticking For Fla. Construction Defect Claims
Ahead of the fast-approaching July 1 deadline for filing construction defect claims in Florida, Sean Ravenel at Foran Glennon discusses how the state's new statute of repose has changed the timeline, and highlights several related issues that property owners should be aware of.
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Wiretap Use In Cartel Probes Likely To Remain An Exception
Although the U.S. Department of Justice's Antitrust Division has recently signaled interest in wiretaps, the use of this technology to capture evidence of antitrust conspiracies and pursue monopolization as a criminal matter has been rare historically, and is likely to remain so, say Carsten Reichel and Will Conway at DLA Piper.
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Series
Playing Chess Makes Me A Better Lawyer
There are many ways that chess skills translate directly into lawyer skills, but for me, the bigger career lessons go beyond the direct parallels — playing chess has shown me the value of seeing gradual improvement in and focusing deep concentration on a nonwork endeavor, says attorney Steven Fink.
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Litigation Inspiration: Attys Can Be Heroic Like Olympians
Although litigation won’t earn anyone an Olympic medal in Paris this summer, it can be worthy of the same lasting honor if attorneys exercise focused restraint — seeking both their clients’ interests and those of the court — instead of merely pursuing every advantage short of sanctionable conduct, says Bennett Rawicki at Hilgers Graben.
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Lean Into The 'Great Restoration' To Retain Legal Talent
As the “great resignation,” in which employees voluntarily left their jobs in droves, has largely dissipated, legal employers should now work toward the idea of a “great restoration,” adopting strategies to effectively hire, onboard and retain top legal talent, says Molly McGrath at Hiring & Empowering Solutions.
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Debate Over CFPB Definition Of Credit Is Just Beginning
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has recently worked to expand the meaning of credit, so anyone operating on the edges of the credit markets, or even those who assumed they were safely outside the scope of this regulatory perimeter, should pay close attention as legal challenges to broad interpretations of the definition unfold, says John Coleman at Orrick.
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A Closer Look At Feds' Proposed Banker Compensation Rule
A recently proposed rule to limit financial institutions' ability to award incentive-based compensation for risk-taking may progress through the rulemaking process slowly due to the sheer number of regulators collaborating on the rule and the number of issues under consideration, say attorneys at Troutman Pepper.
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Opinion
The FTC And DOJ Should Backtrack On RealPage
The antitrust agencies ought to reverse course on their enforcement actions against RealPage, which are based on a faulty legal premise, risk further property shortages and threaten the use of algorithms that are central to the U.S. economy, says Thomas Stratmann at George Mason University.
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Series
Fishing Makes Me A Better Lawyer
Atop the list of ways fishing makes me a better lawyer is the relief it offers from the chronic stress of a demanding caseload, but it has also improved my listening skills and patience, and has served as an exceptional setting for building earnest relationships, says Steven DeGeorge at Robinson Bradshaw.
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A Healthier Legal Industry Starts With Emotional Intelligence
The legal profession has long been plagued by high rates of mental health issues, in part due to attorneys’ early training and broader societal stereotypes — but developing one’s emotional intelligence is one way to foster positive change, collectively and individually, says attorney Esperanza Franco.
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To Make Your Legal Writing Clear, Emulate A Master Chef
To deliver clear and effective written advocacy, lawyers should follow the model of a fine dining chef — seasoning a foundation of pure facts with punchy descriptors, spicing it up with analogies, refining the recipe and trimming the fat — thus catering to a sophisticated audience of decision-makers, says Reuben Guttman at Guttman Buschner.
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Circuit Judge Writes An Opinion, AI Helps: What Now?
Last week's Eleventh Circuit opinion in Snell v. United Specialty Insurance, notable for a concurrence outlining the use of artificial intelligence to evaluate a term's common meaning, is hopefully the first step toward developing a coherent basis for the judiciary's generative AI use, says David Zaslowsky at Baker McKenzie.
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Ohio Tax Talk: The Legislative Push For Property Tax Relief
As Ohio legislators attempt to alleviate the increasing property tax burden, four recent bills that could significantly affect homeowners propose to eliminate replacement property tax levies, freeze property taxes for longtime homeowners, adjust homestead exemptions annually for inflation, and temporarily expand the homestead exemption, say Raghav Agnihotri and Rachael Chamberlain at Frost Brown.