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About This Blog
Welcome to the Snell & Wilmer real estate litigation blog. Check back here often for useful news and information about current topics involving real estate litigation. We hope that you will find the blog both timely and helpful, and we invite you to join the discussion by posting comments about the articles and contacting the authors with your thoughts about the posts.
Real Estate Litigation Group Members and Blog Contributors
- Bob Henry
- Kevin Parker
- Matt Fischer
- Adam Lang
- Cory Braddock
- Benjamin Reeves
- Erica Stutman
- Patrick Paul
- Rick Erickson
- Ginny Olmstead
- Neal McConomy
- Michael E. Lindsay
- Bob L. Olson
- Nathan G. Kanute
- Sean M. Sherlock
- Lyndsey Torp
- Anthony Carucci
- Luke Mecklenburg
- Jon Frank
- Kevin Walton
- Lauren Munsell
- Lauren Podgorski
- Addy Colton
- John Sarager
- Ian Douglas
- David Rao
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Recent Posts
- More Help For Arizona’s Restaurant & Hospitality Industry On the Way
- Married Couple’s Acquisition of Title as Joint Tenants Does Not Rebut the Presumption of Community Property
- Woodbridge II and the Nuanced Meaning of “Adverse Use” in Hostile Property Rights Cases in Colorado
- Statute of Limitations Bars Lender’s Subsequent Action to Quiet Title Against Junior Lienholder Mistakenly Omitted from Initial Judicial Foreclosure Action
- A Landlord’s Guide to the Center for Disease Control’s Eviction Moratorium
Topics
- Anti-deficiency Statute
- Bankruptcy
- Commercial Real Estate Industry
- Construction and Development
- Environmental
- Evictions
- Foreclosures
- Guaranty Contracts
- Judgment Liens
- Medical Marijuana
- Real Estate and Bankruptcy
- Real Estate Appraiser Litigation
- Real Estate Broker Litigation
- Real Estate Purchase/Sale Transaction Litigation
- Real Estate Receivers
- Statutes Affecting Real Estate
- Title Insurance
- Uncategorized
- Zoning
Married Couple’s Acquisition of Title as Joint Tenants Does Not Rebut the Presumption of Community Property
By: Kevin J. Parker
https://www.swlaw.com/people/kevin_parker
In re Brace, 470 P.3d 15 (Cal. 2020), a California married couple acquired real property with community funds, and took title as “husband and wife as joint tenants.” When the husband filed a chapter 7 petition in bankruptcy, the bankruptcy trustee sought to include the property in the debtor’s estate. The Bankruptcy Code provides that community property is part of the bankruptcy estate. The bankruptcy court found that the couple acquired the property with community assets and thus the property was presumptively community property. The couple objected and appealed to the Ninth Circuit, which certified questions to the California supreme court. … Read More »
Author:
Kevin Parker
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Tagged community property, joint tenancy, real estate litigation
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Does a Landlord’s Violation of the Arizona Residential Landlord-Tenant Act Constitute Negligence Per Se?
By: Kevin J. Parker
In a recent Arizona Court of Appeals case, Ibarra v. Gastelum, 2020 WL 4218020 (7/23/20), the Court of Appeals addressed the question whether – in a tenant’s personal injury claim against the landlord – a landlord’s violation of the Arizona Landlord-Tenant Act constituted negligence per se. The tenant alleged he was injured by stubbing his toe on a crack in the floor. The tenant alleged that he had made repeated demands that the landlord repair the crack. The statute required the landlord to make all repairs and do whatever is necessary to put and keep the premises in a fit and habitable condition.… Read More »
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Kevin Parker
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Tagged negligence per se, personal injury, real estate litigation, residential landlord tenant
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Does a Broker Forfeit His or Her Commission for Technical Non-Compliance with Department of Real Estate Statutory Requirements?
By: Kevin J. Parker
In a recent Arizona Court of Appeals case, CK Revocable Trust v. My Home Group Real Estate LLC, 2020 WL 4306183 (7/28/2020), the Court of Appeals addressed the distinction between “substantive” and “technical” statutory requirements for real estate broker commission agreements.
The Court explained that failure to comply with a substantive requirement would preclude the broker from recovering a commission, but failure to comply with a technical requirement would not. As examples of such substantive requirements, the Court identified the statutory requirement that the broker be licensed at the time the claim for commission arose, and the statutory requirement that the listing agreement be signed by both the broker and the client.… Read More »
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Kevin Parker
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Tagged brokerage agreements, forfeiture of commission, real estate litigation, violation of Department of Real Estate regulations
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Foreclosure Deficiency: Construction Loan vs. Home Improvement Loan
By: Kevin J. Parker
In a recent Arizona Court of Appeals case, Helvetica Servicing, Inc., v. Pasquan, 2019 WL 3820015, (8/15/19), the Court of Appeals addressed the distinction between (1) a construction loan (or refinance of same) and (2) a home improvement loan (or refinance of same), as it relates to Arizona’s anti-deficiency statute, A.R.S. §33-729(A).
In general, an anti-deficiency statute provides that although a purchase-money lender or a construction lender can – in appropriate circumstances – foreclose on their loan and cause a sale of the property to pay the loan, the lender cannot (if the statutory criteria are met) force the homeowner/borrower to pay the remaining balance still owed on the loan following the foreclosure (known as the deficiency).… Read More »
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Kevin Parker
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Tagged anti-deficiency, Deficiency judgment, foreclosure, real estate litigation
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Vacation Rentals: Liability of the Owner for Injury Suffered by the Renter
By: Kevin J. Parker
With the explosion of the “private” rental business wherein residential property owners rent their house or condo on a short-term basis to third-parties, certain legal issues have arisen with regard to the duties owed by the property owner to the renter.
A recent Virginia Supreme Court case, Haynes-Garrett v. Dunn, 818 S.E.2d 798 (Va. 2018), addressed that issue. In that case, the property owners owned a rental house in Virginia Beach. The property was not the owners’ main residence, but rather a vacation home that was sometimes used by the owners, but mostly used as a rental.… Read More »
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Kevin Parker
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Tagged Premises liability, real estate litigation, Vacation rentals
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Court Addresses HOA Attempt to Restrict Short Term Rentals
By: Kevin J. Parker
In a recent case, the Texas Supreme Court addressed an attempt by a homeowners’ association (“HOA”) to restrict short-term rentals based upon recorded Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions (“CC&Rs”) applicable to a residential subdivision. The property was a single-family home. The homeowner rented the home through websites such as VRBO. The HOA issued notices of violation; the homeowner kept renting; the HOA assessed fines against the property. The property owner then sought a declaration from the court that the CC&Rs did not impose a minimum duration on occupancy or leasing. The trial court agreed with the HOA.… Read More »
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Kevin Parker
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Tagged real estate litigation, Restrictions on short term rentals, restrictive covenant
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Arizona Court Determines Statute of Limitations Applicable to a Claim for Reformation of a Deed of Trust (and a Related Claim for Declaratory Judgment)
By: Kevin J. Parker
In a recent Arizona Court of Appeals case, Deutsche Bank National Trust Co. v. Pheasant Grove LLC, 798 Ariz. Adv. Rep. 15 (August 23, 2018), the Court of Appeals addressed the question of what statute of limitations was applicable to a declaratory judgment claim. In that case, a bank’s deed of trust inadvertently omitted one of the lots that was supposed to secure that bank’s loan. The deed of trust should have covered lots 8 and 9, but by its terms covered only lot 8. A different bank subsequently recorded a deed of trust that encumbered lot 9. … Read More »
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Kevin Parker
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Tagged declaratory judgment, equitable subrogation, real estate litigation, reformation, replacement mortgage, Statute of Limitations
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Property Owner Entitled to Rely on Zoning Administrator Advice
By: Kevin J. Parker
In the recent case of In Re Langlois/Novicki Variance Denial, 175 A.3d 1222, 2017 VT 76 (2017), the Vermont court addressed the question of whether a property owner could enforce – by equitable estoppel principles – a representation by a town zoning administrator that no permit or variance was needed for the property owner’s proposed construction. In that case, a landowner wanted to add a pergola to an existing concrete patio on his land. During a social visit at the property, the property owner asked the town zoning administrator if he needed a permit. The town zoning administrator told the property owner that no permit was needed. … Read More »
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Kevin Parker
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Tagged estoppel, Real eestate litigation, zoning
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The “Ugly” Property Next Door is Ruining My Property Value
By: Kevin J. Parker
Traditional bases for private nuisance claims include circumstances where noise, light, vibration, or odor emanating from a neighboring property harm the value of your property. Such bases can be objectively verified and quantified. Courts in various states depart, however, on the issue of whether pure unsightliness of a neighboring property, which diminishes the value of your property, supports a cognizable damages claim against the neighboring property owner under the law of nuisance.
As explained by the Vermont Supreme Court in the recent case of Myrick v. Peck Electric Co., 2017 WL 129041 (January 13, 2017), state laws vary on the viability of a claim for aesthetic nuisance. … Read More »
Landlords Beware: Subordination Agreements
By: Kevin J. Parker
In the recent Arizona Court of Appeals case Earle Investments, LLC v. Southern Desert Medical Center Partners, 762 Ariz. Adv. Rep. 12 (2017), the Court of Appeals addressed the question of the scope of a subordination agreement signed by the property owner (Lessor/Landlord) at the request of the Lessee/Tenant and Lessee/Tenant’s Lender. In general, by subordination, Party No. 1 with a higher/better lien priority agrees to allow Party No. 2 (usually a lender providing construction funds for the overall betterment of the property) to get a lien position in front of Party No. 1. Party No.… Read More »
Equitable Subrogation Part Deux: Mechanic’s Lien vs. Later Bank Deed of Trust
https://www.swlaw.com/people/kevin_parker
This post follows, almost two years to the day, Rick Erickson’s post of August 29, 2014. As noted by Rick Erickson in his August 29, 2014 post, the Arizona Supreme Court in the Weitz case (2014) had determined that equitable subrogation principles were applicable to enable an earlier-recorded mechanic’s lien to be trumped by a later-recorded bank deed of trust, if the loan secured by the later deed of trust paid off a lien that had been ahead of the mechanic’s lien. In a decision filed August 9, 2016, the Arizona Court of Appeals further clarified the scope of such equitable subrogation.… Read More »
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Kevin Parker
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Tagged equitable subrogation, mechanic's lien, real estate litigation
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Special Rules for Eviction Actions
By: Kevin Parker
In a recent case, the Arizona Court of Appeals addressed the special rules of procedure for eviction actions. The eviction rules became effective January 1, 2009. In Sotomayor v. Sotomayor-Munoz, 735 Ariz. Adv. Rep. 28 (March 28, 2016), the court addressed the question of whether the evicted tenant had timely appealed. The trial court had entered a formal judgment of eviction; and the tenant had filed various post-judgment motions which the tenant apparently believed extended the tenant’s deadline for filing a notice of appeal. The Court of Appeals determined that the appeal was untimely because, according to the court, the particular motions filed by the tenant did not extend the appeal deadline. … Read More »
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Kevin Parker
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Tagged appeal, eviction, landlord-tenant, real estate litigation
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Statute of Frauds: (1) Email as “Writing” and (2) Email Signature as “Signature”
By: Kevin J. Parker
Arizona, like most states, has a Statute of Frauds that essentially requires real estate related contracts to be both (1) in writing and (2) signed by the party to be charged. A.R.S. § 44-101. Questions often arise as to whether an email can satisfy the “writing” requirement, and whether an electronic signature can satisfy the “signed by the party to be charged” requirement. The answer to these questions, like many legal questions, is: it depends. Whether an email can satisfy the “writing” requirement might depend on whether the transaction relates to interstate commerce. Pursuant to federal statute, 15 U.S.C.… Read More »
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Kevin Parker
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Tagged electronic signature, real estate litigation, statute of frauds
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Arizona Court Clarifies Premise Liability
By: Kevin J. Parker
In a recent Arizona Court of Appeals case, the court clarified the rules for liability of a property owner to a person injured on the premises. In Lee v. M & H Enterprises, Inc. and Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (filed April 21, 2015), the Arizona Court of Appeals addressed the question whether Wal-Mart as the property owner was liable for injuries suffered by an employee of an independent contractor performing construction services on the premises. The injured person sued both Wal-Mart and his employer, the construction company. The court reiterated the general rule that a landowner is not liable for the negligent conduct of an independent contractor on the premises unless the landowner has been independently negligent.… Read More »
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Kevin Parker
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Tagged Premises liability, real estate litigation
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Injunctive Relief for Building Encroachment. Do I Have to Move the House?
By Kevin Parker
When a land owner mistakenly builds a house or other building or structure that encroaches on a neighbor’s property, what is the remedy? Does the offending land owner have to physically remove the structure from the neighbor’s property? Is the harmed neighbor entitled to a mandatory injunction against continuing trespass? Can the offending land owner invoke equitable “balancing of hardships” and simply pay damages? In a recent case, the Supreme Court of Rhode Island distinguished the encroachment situation from traditional injunctive relief analysis. (A court order requiring the offending land owner to remove the offending structure would be a mandatory injunction order.) The general rule is that a party seeking injunctive relief must prove irreparable harm not remediable by damages. … Read More »
Author:
Kevin Parker
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Tagged encroachment, injunction, real estate litigation, trespass
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Homestead Exemption Cannot be Denied on Equitable Grounds
Arizona’s homestead exemption allows a person to protect from certain creditors up to $150,000 of their equity in their residence (dwelling house, condominium, or mobile home). A.R.S. § 33-1101 et seq. This homestead equity is exempt from non-consensual liens, for example recorded judgments against the owner. The homestead exemption does not apply as against consensual liens such as a mortgage or deed of trust.
In a recent opinion, the Arizona Court of Appeals addressed the question of whether a property owner could be precluded on equitable grounds from asserting the homestead exemption. Rogone v. Correia (Opinion filed September 25, 2014). … Read More »
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Kevin Parker
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Tagged foreclosure, homestead exemption, judgment liens, real estate litigation
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Seller Liability for Disclosures (or Non-Disclosures), Part 2
May 12, 2014
By: Kevin J. Parker
In our blog post dated April 29, 2013, Matthew Fischer discussed the case Lerner v. DMB Realty, LLC (Arizona Court of Appeals, November 27, 2012). In that case, the Arizona Court of Appeals addressed, among other things, the viability of a claim wherein a buyer of residential real estate alleged that the seller had an obligation – under the facts of that case – to disclose that they were selling because of the presence of a registered sex offender next door.
The complicating factor was that Arizona, by statute, expressly states that sellers are not obligated to disclose the existence of registered sex offenders in the vicinity. … Read More »
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Kevin Parker
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Tagged real estate, seller disclosures, seller liabilty, seller non-disclosures
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Commercial Real Estate Broker Liens
Arizona, by statute, allows a commercial real estate broker in certain limited circumstances to record a lien against the owner’s real property which is the subject of the commission agreement, in order to protect the broker’s entitlement to their commission. See A.R.S. §§ 33-1071 – 1076. The lien rights apply only to commercial real property and residential property with five or more residential units. The lien rights apply only to leasing and rental transactions, not sales. The lien is enforceable by a foreclosure action the same as a mortgage. The statutes identify very specific protocols that need to be followed. For example, in order to take advantage of such lien rights, such lien rights must be referenced in the pertinent brokerage/listing agreement between the broker and the owner of the real property; a preliminary notice of intent to lien must be recorded no later than 15 days before the date the tenant takes possession; and in certain circumstances a notice of lien must be filed within 90 days after the tenant takes possession. … Read More »
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Kevin Parker
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Tagged broker commissions, broker lien, real estate litigation
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Partition Disputes
Partition is a statutory procedure whereby co-tenants (for example joint tenancy, tenancy-in-common, community property) can file a court action to physically divide or sell the property. See A.R.S. § 12-1211 et seq. Unless the co-tenants have a private partition agreement, any co-tenant can compel sale or physical division of the property through the statutory partition process. Under the statutory partition process, the court appoints commissioners to study whether a physical division of the property is appropriate. If so, the property will be physically divided among the co-owners. If not, the property will be sold by the commissioners and the net proceeds divided among the co-owners. … Read More »
Protecting Your Project From Litigation: Limited Liability Company vs. Partnership
If you have multiple investors/owners, one of the benefits of using a Limited Liability Company (LLC) to own real property rather than using a partnership is that the LLC offers better protection of the real property from creditors of any individual part-owner (LLC member or partner). A judgment creditor of an LLC member is limited to getting a charging order against the member’s interest in the LLC. The charging order gives the judgment creditor the rights of an assignee of the member’s interest. This assignee position simply gives the judgment creditor the “passive” right to receive the distributions from the LLC (if any) that would otherwise go to the LLC member. … Read More »
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Kevin Parker
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Tagged Limited Liability Company, LLC, real property
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