In a legal malpractice action arising out of revisions to a client's estate plan, the appellate court considered whether an attorney has a duty to evaluate a client's mental capacity and, if so, whether the plaintiff alleged...more
On August 5, 2024, the Washington Court of Appeals, Division One, demonstrated the difficulty for property owners to challenge a local government’s decision to pass the cost of city improvements to them. In SHG Garage SPE et...more
Recent turbulence in various market sectors is creating the need to sharpen analyses and understandings of property tax assessment valuations. In evaluating the need for real property tax assessment appeals, it is critical to...more
The City of Philadelphia has extended the deadline for the filing of a first level review of real estate assessment appeals to October 14, 2022. As such, there may be some confusion about this recent extension. ...more
In California, priority between competing liens on the same real property is usually determined by the “first in time, first in right” rule. Under that rule, different liens on the same property have priority according to...more
In a reversal of a lower court decision, the Third District Court of Appeal has held that the California Constitution’s provisions related to Proposition 218 override a statutory exemption that a school district argued...more
In a recent case, a Maryland Federal court permitted a plaintiff to proceed to trial on her failure to accommodate claim under Maryland’s Fair Employment Practices Act (MFEPA), finding that under Maryland law the employer was...more
Regency West concerned the 2012 and 2013 assessments of a newly constructed 72-unit Section 42 housing development. For 2012 (the first tax year following completion of construction), the city assessed the property at...more
In a decision that may reopen the door to significant damages in a California soil and groundwater contamination suit, the Ninth Circuit reversed a trial court’s dismissal of the City of San Diego’s restoration and real...more