Zoning, Planning & Land Use › Insurance

Climate Change Legal Work: Changing The Paradigm Does Not Come Easily

I learned the other day that for $3995 I can download nearly a 1000 page report on the climate change industry. The Ah Hah moment was at hand. The President’s promise at his inauguration and then again at the State of the...more

North Carolina Legislature Uncovers "Hidden Liens"

Executive Summary: North Carolina implements “lien agent” law for construction projects. The North Carolina General Assembly recently enacted significant changes to North Carolina's mechanics lien laws. These changes...more

Can I Have a Basement Apartment?

If you are thinking about converting your basement into a secondary suite, there are many benefits. The added value to your home, the extra income from a rental, and the fact that they provide affordable housing to others are...more

Recent Ruling Confirms That Cost of Compliance with a PRP Letter Is Insured Under CGL Policies

In a recent ruling of interest to any company named as a potentially responsible party (“PRP”) at a Superfund site anywhere in the country, the Alabama Supreme Court has followed the majority of state courts and held that a...more

Real Estate Alert - New Jersey Enacts New Rebuilding Rules In Response To Superstorm Sandy

The impact of Superstorm Sandy on New Jersey was enormous: nearly 346,000 housing units either destroyed or damaged and 190,000 businesses affected. Sandy demonstrated just how vulnerable to damage much of the low-lying areas...more

Maryland establishes tort duty of care for title companies

On January 29, 2013, the Maryland Court of Appeals issued a decision that your title company can now be sued for negligent title searching, and for preparation of an incorrect or incomplete title commitment. This duty of...more

Marketability of Title: In Reaffirming Hocking, the Court of Appeal in Dollinger Draws a Clear Distinction Between Market Value...

Market value and marketable title are not synonymous. Dollinger DeAnza Associates v. Chicago Title (6th Dist. 2011) 199 Cal.App.4th 1132 (“Dollinger”), provides an excellent summary of several key cases interpreting what...more

Determining an Occurrence in Environmental Insurance Cases

Like a comet which drags a long trail in its wake, large CERCLA cases in federal court often are accompanied by related insurance coverage cases in state court. That is true with the Lower Fox River Superfund Site in...more

Summary of HUD’s LEAN 232 Program E-mail Blast: Office of Residential Care Facilities (ORCF), August 29, 2012

In an effort to summarize the highlights of the LEAN E-mail Blasts that we receive, and rarely have time to review in a timely fashion, we at Pepper Hamilton are providing this quick synopsis of the latest LEAN update. Our...more

New Age Split Dollar - Leveraging the Unified Credit Using Split Dollar – Part 2

The tax time bomb is due to explode. On January 1, 2013, the top estate tax bracket increases from 35% to 55%. The exemption equivalent drops from $5.25 million-$1 million per taxpayer. Tax payers in the California,...more

Insurance Companies into Senior Housing Industry—Risks Not To be Overlooked

Since this June the China Insurance Regulatory Commission (“CIRC”) issued 13 draft regulations for public opinion, paces for insurance companies towards senior housing are further picked up. Loosened policy for senior...more

Changes to North Carolina Mechanics Lien Laws

In July, Governor Perdue signed two bills into law which make substantial changes to the state’s mechanics lien and bond laws. With respect to private projects, the most significant changes relate to the creation of “Lien...more

Summary of New Ohio Oil & Gas Legislation

On June 11, 2012, Ohio Governor John Kasich signed Senate Bill 315 (“S.B. 315”) into law. S.B. 315 addresses a wide array of issues and substantially revises the sections of Revised Code 1509 and Revised Code 4906. S.B. 315...more

Construction Oberview: 2012 Maryland General Assembly Legislative Update

A number of bills were passed during the Maryland General Assembly's 2012 legislative session that will impact certain sectors of the construction industry. Ober|Kaler has put together brief summaries of certain bills from...more

Second Annual Greenbuild Legal Forum Highlights Unique Challenges and Opportunities for Green Building Lawyers

The Second Annual Legal Forum at Greenbuild 2011 covered a wide variety of legal issues involved in green building which were presented by more than 10 expert panelists from the US and Canada...more

Ejerskifteforsikring og tilstandsrapporter - nyeste domme/kendelser

Oversigt i summarisk form over den nyere praksis vedrørende tilstandsrapporter, bygningssagkyndiges ansvar og ejerskifteforsikringer....more

2011 ALTA Standards

These standards went into effect on February 23rd, 2011. Be sure to quote your work accordingly!...more

Municipalities Beware: The Perils of Enacting Immigration Ordinances and Know What Your Insurance Policy Covers

Two weeks ago, a panel from the Third Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a District Court decision to require the City of Hazleton, PA, to pay $2.4 million in legal fees to Pedro Lozano, Casa Dominicana of Hazleton Inc.,...more

Myrtle Beach v. Buchanan Hotels, et al.

Copy of lawsuit initiated by City of Myrtle Beach against 11 hotels

City of Myrtle Beach has filed suit alleging eleven Hotels have violated city ordinances which might put the City in jeopardy of qualifying for the Federal Flood Insurance program as regulated by FEMA....more

2010 South Carolina Constrution Law Update

This is an update on the key decisions in South Carolina concerning Construction Law. Mechanics liens, contract, alternative dispute resolution, mediation, arbitration, litigations,...more

From The Capital to the Courthouse

This paper analyzes the land administration policies in Ghana to determine what the impact on the real estate sector has been. Additionally, this paper will briefly analyze title insurance in the United States market and...more

Briefly on Benefits (January 2010)

COBRA Premium Subsidy Extended Extension Signed On Saturday, December 19, 2009, President Obama signed the Department of Defense Appropriations Act of 2009 (the “Act”). Attached to the Act was an expected extension of...more

FEMA Publishes Revised Flood Insurance Rate Map and New Flood Elevation Requirements

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has recently revised its Flood Insurance Rate Map with respect to the designation of Special Flood Hazard Areas and base flood elevation requirements. The purpose of a Flood...more

Green Building Update - July 24, 2009

IN THIS ISSUE: *Allstate's green data center video *Green Building Focus ..AIA examines green building status ..LEED-EB may grow exponentially *Coolwall coating wins top award *Green building demand up in South...more

How A Telephone Pole Can Be Responsible For A Car Crash

Article discussing recent case from BC Court of Appeal where City and Utility Company were held liable for a motor vehicle collision involving a pedestrian for negligent placement of a telephone poll. DISCLAIMER This...more