Real Estate & Property Law

Judge tosses lawsuit claiming Zillow uses Zestimates to funnel website visitors to advertisers

A federal judge in Chicago has dismissed an amended lawsuit that claims Zillow engages in deceptive and unfair business practices by using its sometimes inaccurate “Zestimates” of property value as a marketing tool. U.S. District Judge Amy St. Eve tossed the suit in a May 7 decision, the Chicago Tribune…

May 17, 2018 3:48 PM CDT

Before working for Trump, lawyer Michael Cohen also invested in taxi medallions and real estate

President Donald Trump’s personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, was a personal injury lawyer before working for the Trump Organization, but it wasn’t his only career. Cohen was “a hard-edge personal-injury attorney and businessman” who “often operated in the backwaters of the financial and legal worlds,” the New York Times reports. “Now…

May 7, 2018 1:08 PM CDT

Nearly 1 million US households were ordered evicted in 2016, database shows

The author of a Pulitzer Prize-winning book chronicling the downward spiral of people evicted from their homes in Milwaukee is broadening his research.

Apr 11, 2018 8:00 AM CDT

Appeals court overturns $34.5M malpractice verdict against Holland & Knight

A California appeals court has overturned a $34.5 million malpractice award against Holland & Knight that had stemmed from the firm’s legal work on behalf of an Atlanta developer accused of making false representations to investors and misappropriating their cash.

Apr 6, 2018 7:00 AM CDT

Justice Department sues California over ‘extreme’ law restricting federal land transfers

The U.S. Justice Department filed a lawsuit against the state of California on Monday that contends a state law restricting federal land transfers violates the supremacy clause. The federal government seeks an injunction blocking implementation of the law, known as Senate Bill 50, according to a Justice Department press release.…

Apr 2, 2018 3:39 PM CDT

Foreclosure law firm is accused of overbilling Fannie Mae through affiliates’ ‘exponential markups’

A foreclosure law firm in New York is accused in a federal lawsuit of overbilling Fannie Mae by inflating costs for mortgage-related services offered by its wholly owned affiliates. The Plainview-based law firm Rosicki, Rosicki & Associates is accused of violating the False Claims Act in a March 27 complaint…

Mar 29, 2018 2:06 PM CDT

Judge awards graffiti artists $6.7M in suit against building owner who whitewashed their art

A federal judge in Brooklyn, New York, awarded statutory damages of $6.7 million to 21 graffiti artists in a suit that contended a building owner violated federal law when he painted over their artwork.

Feb 14, 2018 7:00 AM CST

Judge: Kushner company must reveal identities of real estate partners

A federal judge in Maryland ruled Friday that Jared Kushner’s family real estate company could not keep secret the identities of its partners in Baltimore-area apartment complexes that are the subject of a class-action lawsuit by tenants. The class-action lawsuit was filed in September, following a May article co-published by…

Jan 30, 2018 6:16 PM CST

Supreme Court accepts case on endangered frog that tests reach of federal law

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday agreed to consider a case involving an endangered frog and regulations affecting private property.

Jan 23, 2018 8:30 AM CST

Jan. 7, 1795: The Yazoo Land Fraud Becomes Law

A state-sanctioned land grab tested issues of state sovereignty and federal power in the newly independent United States. Claims under the Yazoo Land Act ultimately were resolved by the Supreme Court in Fletcher v. Peck.

Jan 1, 2018 1:00 AM CST

Another lawsuit makes racketeering claims against state-legal marijuana business

Another lawsuit has been filed alleging Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act claims against a marijuana business, Bloomberg Businessweek reports.

Dec 15, 2017 8:00 AM CST

Law firm billed criminal defendants for prosecution fees; building-code violation brings $31K bill

Building-code violators in two California municipalities are being billed for their own criminal prosecutions after the cities hired a law firm and authorized it to bill defendants for its prosecution services. The towns of Coachella and Indio hired the law firm Silver & Wright, which bills not only for its…

Nov 20, 2017 12:12 PM CST

To Colorado, marijuana is a business—to the federal government, it’s a criminal conspiracy

Under federal law, the decriminalized marijuana industry is in a slightly precarious position. Congress has prevented the Department of Justice from interfering with state-legal medical marijuana, but it left the DOJ free to enforce federal law against state-legal recreational marijuana businesses.

Nov 1, 2017 1:40 AM CDT

Suits target government’s decision to release reservoir water during Hurricane Harvey

Dozens of lawsuits have been filed on behalf of Houston homeowners seeking compensation as a result of a federal decision to release water from two reservoirs during Hurricane Harvey. The homeowners contend the release by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers amounts to an improper taking under the Fifth Amendment,…

Oct 24, 2017 8:00 AM CDT

Zoning regulations are problematic for tiny-house buyers

Tiny-house buyers have to cope not only with the challenges of living in a smaller space. There are also zoning regulations that make it difficult to find a spot for the homes.

Oct 10, 2017 7:00 AM CDT