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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
- When Is A Project Delay Material and Actionable?
- The Colorado Supreme Court affirms Woodbridge II’s “Adverse Use” Distinction
- Can a Receiver Prime and Strip Liens Against Real Property?
- Equine Activity Liability Releases: The Arizona Court of Appeals Finds “Release” of Trail Ride Operator Doesn’t Block Negligence Claim for Participant Riding Injury
- Can a Home Builder Disclaim Implied Warranties of Workmanship and Habitability?
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
When Is A Project Delay Material and Actionable?
By Rick Erickson Welcome to 2022! This year, the construction industry will undoubtedly reflect on the last two years as unprecedented times plagued by construction project delays. The COVID-19 pandemic contributed to suspension of work and closure of construction projects … Continue reading
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Rick Erickson
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Tagged #COVID, breach of contract, construction, construction bonds, construction defect litigation, construction law, construction lending, construction litigation, construction management, contractor, Covid-19, damages, design team, owner, project manager, real estate litigation, residential construction, subcontractor
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Can a Home Builder Disclaim Implied Warranties of Workmanship and Habitability?
By: Kevin J. Parker In a recent Arizona Court of Appeals case, Zambrano v. M & RC II LLC, 2021 WL 3204491 (7/29/2021), the Court of Appeals addressed the question whether a home builder’s attempt to disclaim implied warranties of … Continue reading
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Kevin Parker
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Tagged caveat emptor, construction warranties, home construction, implied warranties, real estate litigation, Warranty of Habitability, warranty of workmanship
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Tort Claims Against an Alter Ego May Be Considered an Action “On a Contract” for the Purposes of an Attorneys’ Fees Award under California Civil Code section 1717
By: Tony Carucci California Civil Code section 1717 entitles the prevailing party to attorneys’ fees “n any action on a contract,” where the contract provides for an award of attorneys’ fees to the prevailing party, regardless of whether the prevailing … Continue reading
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acarucci
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Tagged attorneys fees, commercial real estate, construction, contractor, real estate litigation
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California Judicial Council Votes to Rescind Prohibitions on Eviction and Foreclosure Proceedings
By: David Rao and Lyndsey Torp The California Judicial Council’s emergency rules staying evictions and judicial foreclosures are coming to an end. On March 27, 2020, the Governor of California issued executive order N-38-20, giving the Judicial Council emergency authority … Continue reading
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Lyndsey Torp
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Tagged #evictions, emergency rules, foreclosures, Judicial Council, moratorium
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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 … Continue reading
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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 … Continue reading
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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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Arizona Governor Ducey’s Executive Order on Residential Eviction Actions
By: Bob Henry As part of the State of Arizona’s response to the current public health crisis, on March 24, 2020, Arizona Governor Ducey issued Executive Order 2020-14, titled “Postponement of Eviction Actions.” A copy of the Executive Order is … Continue reading
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Bob Henry
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Tagged Arizona residential evictions. Executive Order 2020-14
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A Landlord’s Guide to California’s New Statewide Rent Control Laws
By: Colton Addy Applicability of California’s Rent Control Laws: California Civil Code Sections 1946.2 and 1947.12 took effect on January 1, 2020, and implement statewide rent control in California for most residential properties. The rent control laws, however, do not … Continue reading
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Colton Addy
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Tagged California, landlord, Landlord Obligations, landlord-tenant, rent, rent control, rental, tenancies, tenant, Tenant Protection Act, Tenant Protection Act of 2019
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Short-Term Rental Legislation & Litigation On the Way!
The advent of the shared economy in the real estate context has provided homeowners and investors alike with expanded opportunities to generate revenue from the use of their real estate. Airbnb and VRBO are two of the most popular companies … Continue reading
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Patrick J. Paul
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Tagged #2672, #partyhouse, #scottsdale, #shorttermrental
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CCP 998 Does Not Confer an Independent Right to Attorneys’ Fees
By: Tony Carucci A so-called “offer to compromise” under California Code of Civil Procedure section 998 can reverse the parties’ entitlement to costs after the date of the offer, depending on the outcome of the litigation. Cal. Code Civ. Proc. … Continue reading
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acarucci
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Tagged commercial real estate, construction, contractor, real estate, real estate litigation, Snell & Wilmer
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That’s Common Knowledge! Failure to Designate an Expert Witness in a Professional Negligence Case is Not Fatal Where “Common Knowledge” Exception Applies
By: Lyndsey Torp In reversing summary judgment for defendants, the California Fourth District Court of Appeal recently held that homeowners suing their real estate broker for negligence did not need an expert witness to establish the elements of their causes … Continue reading
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Lyndsey Torp
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Tagged brokers, common knowledge, experts, professional negligence, real estate litigation, summary judgment
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Appellate Court Affirms Medical Marijuana Variance in Phoenix
By: Patrick J. Paul On May 2, 2019, the Arizona Court of Appeals in a memorandum decision, upheld a superior court judgment affirming a variance granted by the City of Phoenix Board of Adjustment (Board) to allow the operation of … Continue reading
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Patrick J. Paul
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Tagged Board of Adjustment, cannabis, CHAA, DHS, Medical Marijuana, pot
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Colorado Court of Appeals clarifies that a finding of irreparable harm is not required to enter a permanent injunction to enforce an easement
On March 21, 2019, the Colorado Court of Appeals issued its opinion in Rinker v. Colina-Lee, holding for the first time that the “irreparable harm” element typically required to grant a permanent injunction is not needed for injunctions issued to … Continue reading
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Luke Mecklenburg
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Tagged colorado real property, commercial real estate, developer, easements, injunction, irreparable harm, real estate, real estate litigation, real property, Snell & Wilmer
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Estoppel Certificate? Estop and Check Your Lease
By: Lauren Podgorski If you are leasing space in a building, there may come a time when you receive a request from your landlord to fill out and sign an estoppel certificate. Estoppel certificates are usually sent to tenants in … Continue reading
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Lauren Podgorski
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Tagged Estoppel Certificate, landlord, lease, tenant
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Land Banking. Why Consider It?
By: Lauren L. Munsell For homebuilders, financing a real estate transaction, oftentimes via an institutional lender, is common place in the industry. But what is land banking and why should it be considered by homebuilders? Land banking is an off-balance … Continue reading
Am I Still Covered Under the Title Insurance Policy?
By: Ian Douglas When transferring property for corporate restructuring or estate planning purposes, an important issue to consider is whether the successor owner will be covered by the grantee’s title insurance policy. Because title insurance policies insure only the title of … Continue reading
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Ian Douglas
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Recording “Un-Neighborly” Documents
By: Bob Henry In September 2018, in Baumgartner v. Timmins, 245 Ariz. 334, 429 P.3d 567, the Arizona Court of Appeals provided further clarification on what constitutes an “encumbrance” on a property for purposes of Arizona’s statutory scheme prohibiting the … Continue reading
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Bob Henry
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Tagged A.R.S. § 33-420, Baumgartner, real estate litigation, recording false documents
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“Bee” Careful: Unique Considerations When Negotiating a Bee Storage Lease Agreement
By: Colton Addy As demand for commercial bees used to pollinate crops (such as almond trees) has grown, so has the demand for facilities to store bees. Entering a lease agreement for the storage of live bees presents some unique … Continue reading
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Colton Addy
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Tagged Bee, Bee Colony Box, Bee Facility, Bee Lease Agreement, Bee Storage, Bee Storage Agreement, Bee Storage Facility, commercial bees, commercial real estate, farm, farm products, farming, lease, Lease Agreement, livestock
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What If Your CCP 998 Offer is Silent on Costs?
By: Tony Carucci In California, the “prevailing party” in litigation is generally entitled to recover its costs as a matter of law. See Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 1032. But under California Code of Civil Procedure section 998, a party … Continue reading
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acarucci
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Tagged commercial real estate, construction, contractor, developer, foreclosure, Guarantor, guaranty, real estate, real estate litigation
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Condemnation Actions: How Valuable Is Your Evidence of Property Value?
By: Erica Stutman When a government condemns (takes) private property for a public use, the property owner is entitled to receive “just compensation” equal to the property’s market value. Value is typically determined by appraisals, but if the parties cannot … Continue reading
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Erica Stutman
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Tagged assemblage, condemnation, eminent domain, highest and best use, just compensation, project influence
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Ten Years After Colorado’s Adverse Possession Amendment: a brief look backwards and forwards
In response to national outrage over an infamous adverse possession case in Boulder, Colorado, in which a lawyer and a judge intentionally took their neighbors’ undeveloped land through adverse possession, the Colorado legislature amended the state’s adverse possession statute (C.R.S. … Continue reading
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Luke Mecklenburg
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Tagged adverse possession, colorado real property, CRS 38-41-101, real estate, real estate litigation, real property, residential, Snell & Wilmer
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Cybersecurity on Your Project: Why Not Follow National Security Strategy?
By Rick Erickson In its recent Cybersecurity Strategy, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) defined “cyberspace” as “the independent network of information technology infrastructure, including the Internet, telecommunications networks, computers, information and communications systems, and embedded processors and controllers.” … Continue reading
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Rick Erickson
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Tagged breach of contract, builder, chief information officer, construction, construction law, construction management, contractor, cyber, cyber threat, cybersecurity, design team, DHS, electronically stored information, ESI, general contractor, homeland security, information systems, liability insurance, national security, national security strategy, network security, project manager, real estate, real estate development, risk management, subcontractor
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California Supreme Court Clarifies Deadline to File Anti-SLAPP Motions in Light of Amended Pleadings
By: Tony Carucci California’s “anti-SLAPP” (“SLAPP” is an acronym for strategic lawsuit against public participation) statute—codified at California Code of Civil Procedure section 425.16 et seq.—is the primary vehicle for defending against any action involving petitioning or free speech. The … Continue reading
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acarucci
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Tagged commercial real estate, construction, developer, eminent domain, real estate litigation, real property
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Under Colorado House Bill 17-1279, HOA Boards Now Must Get Members’ Informed Consent Before Bringing A Construction Defect Action
By: Luke Mecklenburg Last year, I wrote a post calling attention to stalled efforts in the Colorado legislature to pass meaningful construction defect reform. Shortly thereafter, the legislature got it done in the form of House Bill 17-1279. This bill creates … Continue reading
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Luke Mecklenburg
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Tagged C.R.S. § 38-33.3-303.5, CCIOA, CDARA, construction defect, HB 17-1279
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When Does a Contractor Legally Abandon a Construction Project?
By Rick Erickson Lately, we’ve been spending more time as litigators pursuing and defending claims of abandonment against contractors. It has become apparent that abandonment is often misinterpreted in its legal meaning and effect. Here are some thoughts on abandonment … Continue reading
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Rick Erickson
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Tagged abandon, abandonment, breach, breach of contract, claims, construction, construction litigation, contract, contractor, developer, legal excuse, licensing, owner, Registrar of Contractors, subcontractor
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Withdrawal of an Admission in California May Shift Costs—Including Attorneys’ Fees—Incurred in Connection with the Withdrawal
By: Tony Carucci Under California Code of Civil Procedure section 2033.300, a court may permit a party to withdraw an admission made in response to a request for admission upon noticed motion. The court may only do so, however, “if … Continue reading
Is the Issuance of a City Use Permit Referable? Not When It Is an Administrative Act
By: Adam E. Lang Arizona’s Constitution gives electors in cities, towns, and counties the ability to refer legislation that was enacted by their local elected officials to the ballot for popular vote. Ariz. Const. art. IV, Pt. 1 § 1(8). … Continue reading
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Adam Lang
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Tagged administrative act, electors, initiative, legislative act, petition, referable, referendum, rezoning, use permit, zoning
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The Contributors to This Blog Are Pleased to Announce That….
Snell & Wilmer’s Real Estate Litigation Group, which provides the content for The Real Estate Litigation Blog, is pleased to announce that it has been recognized in both the national and metropolitan rankings by U.S. News Media Group and Best … Continue reading
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Ben Reeves
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Tagged Best Lawyers, National Tier 1, real estate litigation, U.S. News Rankings
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RICO Madness: The Nuisance of Owning and Operating a Marijuana Facility
By: Bob Henry On June 7, 2017, the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals issued its opinion in Safe Streets Alliance, et al. v. Hickenlooper, et al., (No. 16-1048), an opinion that could open the doors to property use litigation involving … Continue reading
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Ben Reeves
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Tagged Federal RICO, Medical Marijuana, nuisance, Safe Streets
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California Supreme Court Hands Victory to Private Property Owners Over Public Use
By: Sean M. Sherlock In 1970 the California Supreme Court held that, under certain circumstances, private property owners impliedly dedicate their property to the public if they permit the public to use it. Gion v. City of Santa Cruz (1970) … Continue reading
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Sean M. Sherlock
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Tagged implied dedication, private property, public use
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Does Your 998 Offer to Compromise Include Attorneys’ Fees and Costs?
By: Anthony J. Carucci In California, the “prevailing party” in litigation is generally entitled to recover its costs as a matter of law. See Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 1032. But under California Code of Civil Procedure section 998, a … Continue reading
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acarucci
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Tagged commercial real estate, real estate litigation
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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 … Continue reading
Arizona Supreme Court Holds a Credit Bid at a Trustee’s Sale Should Not be Credited to a Title Insurer Under a Standard Lender’s Title Policy To the Extent the Bid Exceeds the Collateral’s Fair Market Value
By: Richard H. Herold The Arizona Supreme Court recently addressed what impact, if any, a lender’s credit bid at an Arizona trustee’s sale has on an insurer’s liability under Sections 2, 7 and 9 of the standard’s lender’s title policy … Continue reading
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Richard Herold
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Tagged credit bid, Lender's title insurance, trustee's sale
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Forcible Entry and Detainer Actions: Courts May Not Consider Tenant’s Hardship
By: Erica Stutman If you own property and a tenant wrongfully refuses to vacate the premises (for example when the lease expires or after proper written notice of termination), you may have a quick and easy remedy to have the … Continue reading
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Erica Stutman
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Tagged eviction, Forcible Entry and Detainer, Sunquest, Tucson Lot 4
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Franchisors Should Consider Signing a Conditional Lease Assignment Rather Than a Franchisee’s Lease
By: Richard H. Herold In Franchise & High Properties, LLC v. Happy’s Franchise, LLC, a 2015 decision issued by the Court of Appeals in Michigan, the franchisor, Happy’s Pizza Franchise, LLC, signed a five-year lease for the commercial space to … Continue reading
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Richard Herold
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Tagged franchise litigation, franchisee, Guarantor, landlord, lease, tenant
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Sierra Pacific v. Bradbury goes unchallenged: Colorado’s six-year statute of repose begins when a subcontractor’s scope of work ends
It’s official: the October 20, 2016 deadline to petition for certiorari to the Colorado Court of Appeals on its decision in Sierra Pacific Industries, Inc. v. Bradbury has passed, so it appears that decision will stand. In Sierra Pacific, the … Continue reading
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Luke Mecklenburg
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Avoiding Lender Liability for Credit-Related Actions in California
By: Anthony J. Carucci Aside from general statutory prohibitions on lender discrimination, there are certain circumstances under California law in which lenders may be held liable for credit-related actions, such as negotiating or denying credit. See generally 11 Cal. Real … Continue reading
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acarucci
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Tagged commercial real estate, foreclosure, foreclosures, real estate, real estate litigation, real property
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What Do I Do With This Stuff? Dealing With Abandoned Property After Foreclosure
By: Lyndsey Torp You’ve successfully foreclosed on a commercial building in California, and, thankfully, the borrower moved out after foreclosure or after a period of tenancy. But the borrower left behind all sorts of property – furniture, filing cabinets, records, … Continue reading
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Lyndsey Torp
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Tagged abandon, abandoned property, foreclosure, lost property, personal property, records
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Developer Awarded Cost of Preparing Administrative Record in CEQA Lawsuit
Lawsuits under the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) typically proceed as petitions for administrative mandamus. This means the petitioner is asking the court to review an agency’s decision and ultimately issue a mandate directing the agency to set aside its … Continue reading
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Sean M. Sherlock
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Tagged administrative record, CEQA, costs of suit
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“Rip and Tear” Damage Remains Covered Under CGL Policy as “Accident”—for Now.
By: Michael Lindsay and Luke Mecklenburg The Colorado Supreme Court has approved a settlement between the parties to an appeal of the 2012 Colorado Pool Systems v. Scottsdale Insurance Company Court of Appeals case, leaving that ruling intact. The ruling … Continue reading
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mlindsay
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Landlords Must Not be Arbitrary When Denying a Tenant’s Request To Sublease or Assign
By: Richard Herold So, you’re a landlord who’s entered into a 30-year lease, the lease has rent escalation clauses which are dramatically out of step with the market, and it’s your view that you are therefore losing money every month. … Continue reading
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Richard Herold
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Tagged Arizona real estate, commercial real estate, landlord, lease, real estate litigation, tenant
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California’s One-Action Rule May Apply to Federal Lenders
By: Anthony J. Carucci California’s one-action rule provides that “here can be but one form of action for the recovery of any debt or the enforcement of any right secured by mortgage upon real property or an estate for years … Continue reading
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acarucci
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Tagged anti-deficiency, commercial real estate, deficiency, foreclosure, foreclosures, Guarantor, guaranty, one-action rule, real estate, real estate litigation, real property
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California Case Deals with Nuisance Lawsuit Intended to Delay Foreclosure
A recent California case provides good precedent for dealing with nuisance lawsuits that are intended to delay valid foreclosures. In Brown v. Deutsche Bank National Trust Company —Cal.Rptr.3d—, 2016 WL 2726229 (May 9, 2016), plaintiff sued defendants to stop them … Continue reading
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Sean M. Sherlock
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Tagged demurrer, foreclosure, judicial notice
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Eminent Domain: Be Careful What You Ask For
By: Richard Herold and Patrick Paul The condemnation of property for public works may not always be as clean and easy as the government would like. Although local governments are often critical players in the cleanup and redevelopment of contaminated … Continue reading
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Richard Herold
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Tagged condemn, condemnation, eminent domain, environmental liability, real estate, real estate litigation, real property, seller disclosures, valuation
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Tips on Pursuing and Defending Complaints against Contractors
By Rick Erickson firm bio The often staggering cost of litigation has prompted an equally staggering amount of regulatory complaints against contractors in recent years. Why? Because filing a complaint against a contractor may not cost a complainant anything but time. And … Continue reading
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Rick Erickson
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Tagged building code, construction, construction bonds, construction litigation, contractor administration, Registrar of Contractors, regulation of contractors, regulatory complaints, surety liability, workmanship
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Lenders Should Contract for the Right to Recover Lost Goodwill Proceeds when Commercial Property is taken in Eminent Domain
By: Anthony J. Carucci Business Goodwill Generally In California, the “goodwill” of a business “consists of the benefits that accrue to a business as a result of its location, reputation for dependability, skill or quality, and any other circumstances resulting … Continue reading
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acarucci
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Tagged commercial real estate, condemnation, eminent domain, just compensation, lien, real estate, real estate litigation
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The Uniform Law Commission Approves the Uniform Commercial Real Estate Receivership Act
By: Ben Reeves As we previously reported here, several years ago the Uniform Law Commission (the “ULC”) (the organization that drafted such favorites as the Uniform Commercial Code and the Uniform Arbitration Act) determined that states would benefit from a … Continue reading
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Ben Reeves
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Tagged model receivership act, real estate litigation, receiver, Uniform Commercial Real Estate Receivership Act
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Property Taxes: A Shopping Center May Not Always be a Shopping Center
By: Rick Herold, Craig McPike & Ben Reeves In the world of real property taxes, Valuation + Classification = Assessed Valuation. Sounds simple, right? The County Assessor determines the first factor, valuation (subject to certain guidelines under applicable Arizona law). … Continue reading
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Richard Herold
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Tagged movie theater, real estate, shopping center, tax appeal, valuation, zoning
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Homebuilders Welcome Recent Court Decisions
By: Patrick Paul Arizona homebuilders will welcome with open arms two recent legal rulings of substantial impact to their industry. In the first decision, on July 28, 2015, in Sullivan v. Pulte Home Corp., No. 1 CA-CV 14-0199, the Arizona … Continue reading
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Patrick J. Paul
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Tagged Clean Water Act, economic loss rule, homebuilder, Water of the United States
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Does a title company owe a duty of care to third parties in the recording of legal instruments?
By: Ben Reeves This is precisely the question that the Ninth Circuit recently certified to the Washington Supreme Court in Centurion Properties III, LLC v. Chicago Title Ins. Co. Facts of the Case In this case, Centurion Properties III, LLC … Continue reading
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Ben Reeves
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Tagged Centurion Properties v. Chicago Title, duty to third-party, real estate law, title insurance
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Upheld: Injured Subcontractor’s Lent Employee Has No Claim Against Landowner or General Contractor After Choosing Workers’ Compensation and Failing to Prove Landowner Controlled the Work
By Rick Erickson (http://www.swlaw.com/attorneys/rick_erickson) On this Memorial Day 2015, I write in honor of my U.S. Marine Corps colleague, Megan McClung, who was killed in Iraq nine years ago this December. Major McClung and I served together in Anbar Province … Continue reading
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Rick Erickson
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Nevada Supreme Court holds that Voluntary Payment Doctrine Prohibits a Party from Recovering Amounts Wrongly Paid to Homeowner’s Association in Order to Prevent Foreclosure
By: Bob L. Olson On September 30,2014, we posted “Lenders Beware: the Nevada Supreme Court Holds that Foreclosures of Homeowner’s Association Liens May Extinguish First Priority Deeds of Trust” which discussed the recent decision of SFR Investments Pool 1, LLC … Continue reading
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Bob L. Olson
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Tagged HOA Lien, Nevada Association Services, real estate litigation, SFR Investments
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Federal Courts to Apply More Protective State Law when Analyzing Validity of Pre-dispute Jury Trial Waivers in Diversity Jurisdiction Cases
By Anthony J. Carucci The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals recently held that federal courts sitting in diversity jurisdiction must apply the underlying state law to determine the validity of pre-dispute jury trial waivers where the state law is more … Continue reading
Church Property Tax Liability in Arizona for Commercial Leases
By: Bob Henry Arizona House Bill 2128, which was signed into law by Governor Doug Ducey on March 23, 2015, has potential impact on the commercial real estate leasing market. The bill enables owners of real property that is leased … Continue reading
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Bob Henry
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Tagged commercial real estate, HB 2128, leasing
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A Purchaser Who Doesn’t Inquire May Be Teeing Up For Failure
By: Erica Stutman Picture this: While on the hunt for new development opportunities, you stumble across a golf course in the middle of a high-end community, and you think this would be the perfect spot for more houses, or … Continue reading
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Erica Stutman
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Tagged equitable easement, equitable servitude, golf course, implied easement, implied servitude, real estate development, real property, restrictive covenant
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Inverse Condemnation: When is Your Claim Precluded by the Arizona Statute of Limitations?
By: Richard Herold An inverse condemnation of a landowner’s property can occur when a governmental entity: (1) physically takes the property without compensation; or (2) passes a new law that has a serious impact on the value and/or utility of … Continue reading
Guarantor Waivers Narrowed
By: Lyndsey A. Torp and Sean M. Sherlock A general waiver by a guarantor of “all defenses” does not actually waive “all defenses.” California Bank & Trust v. Del Ponti, — Cal.Rptr.3d —, 2014 WL 6908141 (Cal.App. 4 Dist.). That … Continue reading
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Sean M. Sherlock
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Tagged defense, Guarantor, guaranty, waiver
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California Case Requires Arbitration Despite Lack of Actual Controversy
By: Lyndsey A. Torp and Sean M. Sherlock For parties to litigate a contract dispute in a court of law, the parties’ disagreement must have ripened into an actual controversy presenting more than a mere academic difference of opinion. … Continue reading
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Sean M. Sherlock
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Tagged arbitration, justiciability, ripeness
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Nevada Supreme Court adds New Elements to Constructive Eviction Claims.
By Bob L. Olson Nevada, like many jurisdictions, has recognized the ability of a tenant to vacate property if it becomes unfit for occupancy for the purpose for which it was leased. This is commonly known as a “constructive eviction.” … Continue reading
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Bob L. Olson
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Tagged commercial lease, constructive eviction, evict, eviction, landlord, lease, tenant
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General Contractor’s Prospective Waiver Of Its Lien Rights Is Enforceable In California
By: Lyndsey Torp http://www.swlaw.com/attorneys/lyndsey_torp In another decision favoring lenders (See http://www.swlaw.com/blog/real-estate-litigation/2014/08/29/arizona-supreme-court-to-contractor-sorry-but-equitable-subrogation-of-a-banks-later-deed-of-trust-trumps-earlier-mechanics-lien-rights/), the California Court of Appeal, in an opinion published in September 2014, entitled Moorefield Construction, Inc. v. Intervest Mortgage Investment Company, et al., D065464, held an original contractor can … Continue reading
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Lyndsey Torp
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Tagged contractor, deed, foreclosure, lien, loan, mechanics, owner, subordination, waiver
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New California Case Illustrates Peril of Full Credit Bid
By: Sean M. Sherlock In a new California case, a lender that made a full credit bid at a foreclosure sale lost its right as mortgagee under a lender’s insurance policy for damage to the property that occurred prior to … Continue reading
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Sean M. Sherlock
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Tagged foreclosure bid, Full credit bid, lender's insurance, mortgagee insurance
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Easements Made Easier: Building Pipelines with the Power of Eminent Domain Under the Natural Gas Act
By: Richard H. Herold Any person or entity seeking to construct a natural gas pipeline and successful in obtaining a certificate of convenience and necessity from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission may exercise the power of eminent domain to obtain easements across … Continue reading
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Richard Herold
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Tagged condemnation, easements, eminent domain, natural gas act, pipelines
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Nevada Supreme Court Clarifies Mechanic and Materialman Lien Issues
By: Nathan Kanute and Bob Olson On August 7, 2014, the Nevada Supreme Court issued two opinions dealing with the priority of mechanics’ liens and the proof required for a materialman to establish a lien. These cases provide valuable guidance to … Continue reading
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Nathan Kanute
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Tagged lien priority, materialman's lien, mechanic's lien
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Colorado Supreme Court Revisits Rule Against Perpetuities
By: Ginny Olmstead http://www.swlaw.com/attorneys/virginia_olmstead In March of this year, the Colorado Supreme Court revisited a fundamental doctrine of property law, which it described as “long cherished by law school professors and dreaded by most law students: the infamous rule against … Continue reading
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golmstead
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Guarantors Score Two Victories Before the Nevada Supreme Court.
By: Bob Olson and Nathan Kanute On May 29, 2013, the Nevada Supreme Court issued two decisions that all real estate lenders need to be aware of because they have the potential to eliminate the ability of a lender to … Continue reading
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Bob L. Olson
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Tagged deficiency, foreclosure, Guarantor, one-action rule
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Nevada Supreme Court and District Court Issue Decisions Regarding Nevada’s Limitations on Deficiency Judgments.
By: Bob Olson and Nathan Kanute In 2011 the Nevada Legislature enacted Assembly Bill 273 (“AB 273”) which amended NRS 40.459 by limiting deficiency judgments to the difference between the amount the lender paid to acquire the loan or obligation and … Continue reading
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Bob L. Olson
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Tagged AB 273, anti-deficiency, deficiency, Eagle SPE, foreclosure, Sandpointe
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Is the Future Bright for Commercial Real Estate in Arizona?
By Cory L. Braddock AZRE Magazine recently published an interesting article discussing the outlook for the commercial real estate market in Arizona. To give it a read, click here.
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Cory Braddock
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Borrowers Can Avoid Liability Even After a Trustee’s Sale
By: Ben Reeves Since a lender must have a valid debt and valid lien to conduct a trustee’s sale, a borrower that allows the foreclosure sale to occur impliedly agrees that the debt and lien are valid. In Madison v. … Continue reading
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Ben Reeves
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Tagged A.R.S. 33-811(C), anti-deficiency, BT Capital, Moran AZ Financial v. Gotses
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Unmitigated Waivers: Guarantors Remain Liable Despite 4-Year Delay in Foreclosure Sale
By: Ben Reeves If a lender delays foreclosure allowing years of default interest to accrue such that a guarantor’s obligation increases from $6 million to $12 million, should the guarantor remain on the hook for the full $12 million? In … Continue reading
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Ben Reeves
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Tagged Guarantor, guaranty, impairment of collateral, mitigation of damages, Pi'ikea v. Williamson, waiver
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Arizona Supreme Court Holds That Property Owner Who Quarreled With Light Rail Construction Should Be Compensated For Lost Access
By Eric H. Spencer Late last week, the Arizona Supreme Court handed down a decision that clarified the rights of property owners who lose access to an abutting road and, in the process, reinforced the principle that both elimination and … Continue reading
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Eric Spencer
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Tagged eminent domain, just compensation, right of access
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The Registrar is Changing the Game for Complaints Against Arizona Contractors
By Rick Erickson http://www.swlaw.com/attorneys/rick_erickson Sweeping changes at the Registrar of Contractors have the construction and real estate industries concerned and curious. The Registrar recently received some poor performance reports by the Auditor General and State Ombudsmen. As a result, the … Continue reading
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Rick Erickson
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Tagged administrative remedies, contractor complaints, contractor licensing, enforcement, Registrar of Contractors, regulation of contractors
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Beyond Real Estate: Publicly Traded Homebuilders (And Other Public Companies) Must be Aware of Cybersecurity and Data Breach Disclosure Requirements Applicable to SEC Filings
By: Richard H. Herold Generally speaking, publicly traded homebuilders and other public companies must disclose material information in their SEC filings. “Information is considered material if there is a substantial likelihood that a reasonable investor would consider it important in … Continue reading
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, … Continue reading
The Uniform Law Commission Makes Progress Drafting a Model Act on the Appointment and Powers of Real Estate Receivers
By: Ben Reeves If all goes as planned, the Uniform Law Commission will finalize and promulgate a model act dealing with the appointment and powers of commercial real estate receivers at some point in 2015. Last month, the Drafting Committee … Continue reading
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Ben Reeves
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Tagged model act, power to sell, real estate receiver, uniform law commission
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CC&Rs Remain Subject to Statutory Modification
By: Andy Stone Future legislation may impact current CC&R obligations. In an important decision for all communities, homeowner associations, builders, and developers, the Arizona Court of Appeals recently held that new laws may apply retroactively to modify or eliminate CC&R … Continue reading
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Andy Stone
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Tagged ARS 33-814, CC&R obligations, Hawk v. PC Village
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AZRE Article Discusses Social Media Resources for the Industry
By: Matthew P. Fischer In the most recent issue of the magazine AZRE: Arizona Commercial Real Estate (September October 2013), reporter and former editor Peter Madrid wrote on social media coverage of the Arizona commercial real estate industry in his … Continue reading
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Matthew Fischer
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Tagged Arizona real estate, AZRE Magazine, blog, commercial real estate, real estate litigation, Snell & Wilmer
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