Residential
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March 20, 2023
Colo. House Panel OKs Tax Break For Wildfire Rebuilds
Construction materials purchased for the rebuild and repair of Colorado homes damaged by wildfires would be eligible for sales and use tax exemptions under legislation advance by a state House committee Monday.
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March 20, 2023
4th Circuit Says Developer Missed Opportunity To Sue City
The Fourth Circuit has affirmed a North Carolina lower court's order denying housing developer Epcon Homestead's suit against a North Carolina city over more than $800,000 in fees because the company filed it after the statute of limitations had run out.
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March 20, 2023
NY Developer Vornado Can Join Penn Station Financing Row
A New York state court judge on Monday permitted Vornado Realty Trust to join a pair of lawsuits challenging the financial structure for a project to revamp Penn Station, a plan that opponents say showers outsized benefits on the real estate developer.
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March 20, 2023
Calif. Attorney, Husband Convicted Of Tax Crimes
A California attorney and her husband were found guilty of trying to block an IRS audit of their tax returns, on which the lawyer's husband, a mortgage broker, fabricated $800,000 in business expenses, according to a California federal court.
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March 20, 2023
Chinese Site's Use Of Amazon Servers Keeps IP Suit Alive
A New York federal judge has ruled that a Chinese real estate listing website's use of Amazon's web servers is enough to force it to face claims that it broke U.S. copyright laws in a suit accusing it of copying more than a hundred Wall Street Journal, MarketWatch and Mansion Global articles without paying for them.
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March 20, 2023
Real Estate Rumors: Coba, Chatham County, Sulivant
European Wax co-founder Josh Coba and his wife, Jenni, have reportedly sold a Florida condo for $16.2 million, Chatham County in North Carolina could fetch nearly $51 million with the sale of nearly 340 acres, and Outback Steakhouse co-founder Chris Sulivant is said to have picked up a Tampa, Florida, townhouse for $3.3 million.
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March 20, 2023
NYC Eviction Firm Won't Drop AG Atty 'Vendetta' Claims
A New York City real estate law firm has appealed a state court's refusal to remove a state attorney whom it says has a "vendetta" in a case accusing the firm of deceptive rent collection and eviction practices.
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March 20, 2023
Justices Pass On Public Housing Smoking Ban Dispute
The U.S. Supreme Court declined on Monday to hear a challenge to the federal government's ban on smoking in public housing.
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March 20, 2023
Man Sues Loan Co. For Using His SSN On Wrong Mortgage
A Massachusetts man wants a loan servicing company to be held responsible for incorrectly using his Social Security number on a foreclosed loan that wasn't his but resulted in him losing the ability to purchase a potential home.
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March 20, 2023
Herrick Feinstein Names 1st Female Executive Chair
Herrick Feinstein LLP announced Monday that longtime partner and current real estate co-chair Belinda G. Schwartz is the firm's new executive chair, marking the first time in its nearly 100-year history that a woman is serving in the role.
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March 20, 2023
Minn. Tax Court Nixes Tax Break After Sale Of Inherited Parcel
The estate of a deceased Minnesota man owes additional state estate tax on inherited property that was sold outside an heir's family because the sale disqualified the parcel from an exemption to the tax, the state tax court said.
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March 20, 2023
9th Circ. Agrees Law Firm Didn't Illegally Access Credit Report
The Ninth Circuit upheld a win for a law firm accused of unlawfully accessing an Arizona woman's credit report after her homeowner's association hired it to collect unpaid assessments, saying the action was not a violation of the Fair Credit Reporting Act because the HOA could be considered a creditor in this instance.
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March 20, 2023
Court Says Tripled Consumer Damages Can Count For Fees
Attorneys for two homebuyers who sued Heartland Homes can collect nearly $359,000 in fees and costs after a Pennsylvania federal judge ruled Monday that the fee request was reasonable based on either the jury's original award or the tripled damages allowed under the state's consumer protection law.
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March 17, 2023
NY Rangers' Vladimir Tarasenko Sued In Fla. Condo Remodel
A Florida residential design company has sued New Rangers hockey player Vladimir Tarasenko in state court over breach of contract involving a condominium remodel, alleging the professional athlete failed to pay nearly $105,000 towards construction on the property.
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March 17, 2023
Newmark Lines Up $248M Loan For Biltmore In NYC
Newmark announced Friday that it had lined up a $248 million refinancing loan for the Biltmore, a 51-story, 464-unit luxury apartment building in New York City, for its clients BentallGreenOak and Slate Property Group.
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March 17, 2023
Apt. Complex, Insurer Settle Water Damage Coverage Suit
A Texas apartment complex owner, its insurance broker and insurer have reached a settlement in a coverage dispute over water damage stemming from freezing temperatures caused by a deadly 2021 winter storm, the parties told a Texas federal court on Friday.
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March 17, 2023
NY Tax Dept. Extends Brownfield Redevelopment Credit
New York has extended the periods in which the state's brownfield redevelopment tax credit may be claimed, the state tax department said Friday.
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March 17, 2023
Pa. Court Says Pittsburgh Rental Rule Goes Too Far
A Pennsylvania appellate court ruled Friday that a Pittsburgh law implementing tighter restrictions for rental units exceeded the municipality's powers, citing a state law prohibiting certain cities from imposing rules on businesses unless authorized by the state.
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March 17, 2023
Mich. Landlord Says Voter Info Law Violates Free Speech
A landlord in Michigan says a city ordinance requiring voter registration information to be posted in apartment buildings violates his free speech rights, according to a new lawsuit.
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March 17, 2023
Ga. Developers Drop Mortgage Fraud Suit After Losing Appeal
A group of Georgia real estate developers have dropped a Georgia State-wide Business Court suit against a lender that was accused of failing to secure the best interest rates on several mortgage loans, after an appellate court ruled that the developers failed to show wrongdoing.
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March 17, 2023
Calif. Property Owner Hits Cops, Feds With $2.5M Suit
A Bakersfield, California, property owner hit the city, its police department and the U.S. Department of the Interior's Bureau of Land Management with a $2.5 million suit alleging that the cops "severely damaged" property while removing a tenant.
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March 17, 2023
Property Plays: James Dyson, Slice, Ashkenazy
A James Dyson venture has reportedly paid $60 million for a building in New York's SoHo neighborhood, Slice is reportedly seeking to sublease out more than 18,000 square feet in New York and Ashkenazy Acquisition has reportedly paid $21.75 million for an Illinois shopping center.
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March 17, 2023
Architecture Firm Seeks $200K In Unpaid Service Fees
An architectural firm is suing a multifamily housing developer over almost $200,000 in unpaid fees from 2020 for services performed for two Florida apartment complexes.
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March 17, 2023
US Low-Income Housing Crunch Grew After COVID: Report
A shortage of homes for extremely low-income residents that pervades every U.S. state and metro area worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic, the National Low Income Housing Coalition said in a new report this week.
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March 17, 2023
HUD Reinstates 2013 Anti-Discrimination Rule
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development said Friday it is reinstating a 2013 rule that aims to make it "straightforward" to allege Fair Housing Act claims over discriminatory housing policies, removing barriers introduced by a 2020 rule change.

3D-Printed Construction Market Set To Take Off Amid US Sales
The global 3D-printed construction market is on track to be worth $1.6 trillion by 2030, according to a report released this week by Meticulous Research as the nation's largest 3D-printed home to date was listed for sale in New York.

Minorities Face Bias At Wells Fargo, Derivative Suit Says
Wells Fargo shareholders have claimed that the diversity, equity and inclusion efforts of the bank's board have failed, alleging that Wells Fargo discriminates against minority job applicants, employees and borrowers.

How Manufactured Homes Can Help Close The Housing Gap
Manufactured housing is attracting growing interest from policymakers across the country looking for solutions to the affordable-home crisis. In a three-part series for Women’s History Month, Law360 spoke to women who play pivotal, if sometimes opposing, roles in moving the industry forward, starting with Lesli Gooch, head of the Manufacturing Housing Institute in Washington.
Expert Analysis
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5 Takeaways From Recent CFPB, FTC Equal Credit Push
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and Federal Trade Commission overlap in regulating a wide range of banks and nonbanks, and the recent concerted effort from both agencies to address discrimination in financial services should remind organizations to reexamine their anti-discrimination and Equal Credit Opportunity Act compliance, say attorneys at Wiley.
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ABA Opinion Should Help Clarify Which Ethics Rules Apply
A recent American Bar Association opinion provides key guidance on interpreting ABA Model Rule 8.5's notoriously complex choice-of-law analysis — and should help lawyers authorized to practice in multiple jurisdictions determine which jurisdiction's ethics rules govern their conduct, say attorneys at HWG.
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Where Illinois And Federal Law Differ On Community Finance
As state regulators finalize the implementing regulations in the Illinois Community Reinvestment Act, attorneys at Vedder Price break down the law's material provisions, compare them to those in the federal counterpart and outline what banks in the state can expect.
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4 Ways To Reboot Your Firm's Stalled Diversity Program
Law firms that have failed to see real progress despite years of diversity initiatives can move forward by committing to tackle four often-taboo obstacles that hinder diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, says Steph Maher at Jaffe.
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DOJ's Google Sanctions Motion Shows Risks Of Auto-Deletion
The U.S. Department of Justice recently hit Google with a sanctions motion over its alleged failure to preserve relevant instant-messaging communications, a predicament that should be a wake-up call for counsel concerning the danger associated with automatic-deletion features and how it's been handled by the courts, say Oscar Shine and Emma Ashe at Selendy Gay.
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What To Expect From A Litigation Finance Industry Recession
There's little data on how litigation finance would fare in a recession, but a look at stakeholders' incentives suggests corporate demand for litigation finance would increase in a recessionary environment, while the number of funders could shrink, says Matthew Oxman at LexShares.
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Insureds Must Prep For Drought-Related Service Interruptions
Amid the ongoing U.S. water crisis, corporate policyholders must prepare for the emerging risk of service interruption property damage and time element loss, including through careful examination of their current and renewal property policies, says Micah Skidmore at Haynes Boone.
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How To Select The Right Arbitrator For A Construction Dispute
Excerpt from Practical Guidance
In construction disputes, selecting an arbitrator is a critical decision with many nuances to consider, as different types of potential panelists all come with their own experiences, views and possible biases, says Edward Gentilcore at Blank Rome.
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Enviro Exemption For NYC Housing Looks Legally Dubious
New York City Mayor Eric Adams' recently announced plan to exempt smaller residential developments from state environmental review may be a laudable attempt to expand the housing supply, but a review of applicable statutes suggests that the mayor lacks the authority to create this exemption, says Richard Leland at Akerman.
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What COVID Home Equity Repayment Plan Means For Lenders
Mortgage servicers need to note expanded borrower protections established by the Federal Housing Administration's recent COVID-19 home equity repayment plan, which balances the FHA's goal of protecting its insurance interests while helping borrowers hold onto their homes, say Jay Wright and Britney Crawford at Bradley.
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CFPB's Reading Of Lending Act May Affect Home Equity Plans
If the Fourth Circuit adopts the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's arguments in Lyons v. PNC Bank, it would remove one tool issuers of home equity line of credit loans currently have to ensure repayment of outstanding debt on their customers' legacy HELOC accounts, say Ralph Mazzeo and Edward Southgate at Dechert.
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Justices Leave Questions Open On Dual-Purpose Atty Advice
The U.S. Supreme Court's recent dismissal of In re: Grand Jury on grounds that certiorari was improvidently granted leaves unresolved a circuit split over the proper test for deciding when attorney-client privilege protects a lawyer's advice that has multiple purposes, say Susan Combs and Richard Kiely at Holland & Hart.
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High Court Bankruptcy Ruling Is Unintended Gift To The SEC
The U.S. Supreme Court's recent decision in Bartenwerfer v. Buckley on the Bankruptcy Code's fraud exception to dischargeability may have indirectly boosted the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's authority to collect monetary judgments arising out of its enforcement actions, say attorneys at King & Spalding.