Commercial Law & Contracts

Read Residential Real Estate law updates, news, and legal analysis from leading lawyers and law firms:

News & Analysis as of May 22, 2013

Dodging Deal Killers -- Anticipating and Solving Problems Related to Properties Being Sold or Purchased

by Walter McMonies, John Pinkstaff | Lane Powell PC - Real Estate Law on 4/5/2013

In This Presentation: Contamination; Environmental Issues; Defective or Incomplete Land Use Approval; “As Is,” “Your Problem Not Mine” Seller; Encroachment; URM or Otherwise Seismically Challenged Property; Use,...more

Asbestos - Does it matter?

by Matthew J. Wilson | Lerners LLP on 3/20/2013

Asbestos was often used in the construction of residential properties, particularly in the 1950s to 1970s. Asbestos was primarily used as an insulator because it is heat resistant and has a high tensile strength. It was...more

Virginia Supreme Court Ends Chinese Drywall Debate

by Andrea Cortland | Cozen O'Connor on 11/8/2012

We are pleased to report that the Virginia Supreme Court has tacked down – or, more appropriately, “drywall-ed in” – the issue of whether a pollution exclusion in a property insurance policy precludes coverage for Chinese...more

Indemnification Agreements Under CERCLA Do Not Affect Liability to Entities That Are Not Parties to the Agreement

by Foley Hoag LLP - Environmental Law on 10/18/2012

Section 107(e) of CERCLA provides that - "No indemnification, hold harmless, or similar agreement or conveyance shall be effective to transfer from the owner or operator of any vessel or facility or from any person who...more

Insurance Coverage: October 2012

by Low, Ball & Lynch on 10/11/2012

This past quarter brought us the long-awaited decision from the California Supreme Court on stacking of insurance policies. The Supreme Court has ruled that stacking of limits on successive policies is permitted on continuous...more

Watershed Date for N.J. Site Remediation: May 7, 2012

by Cole Schotz on 4/3/2012

In just over two months, nearly every existing site remediation case pending before the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) will become subject to the 2009 Site Remediation Reform Act, N.J.S.A. 58:10C-1...more

WEEKLY LAW RESUME™ - Coverage: Pollution Exclusion - Asbestos

by Low, Ball & Lynch on 8/29/2011

Villa Los Alamos Homeowners Association v. State Farm General Insurance Company Court of Appeal, First District (August 25, 2011) In MacKinnon v. Truck Insurance Exchange (WLR September 4, 2003), the California Supreme...more

Lang Michener - Real Estate Brief - Spring 2008

by Lang Michener LLP on 5/1/2008

In This Issue: The Ontario Brownfields legislation is designed to encourage development of properties that are contaminated or are perceived to be contaminated by reason of prior use. Annie Thuan reviews some recent and...more

Environmental Advisory: Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Holds Parent Corporation Not Liable under Massachusetts Superfund Law...

by Mintz Levin - Corporate & Securities on 3/25/2008

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) has held that a parent corporation is not liable under M.G.L. c. 21E, the Massachusetts Superfund law, for the liability of a subsidiary that the parent did not own or control at...more