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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.
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Recent Posts
- Liquidated Damages: Too High and It’s a Penalty. Too Low and You’re Out of Luck.
- The Arizona Supreme Court Confirms that Judgment Liens Attach to Homestead Property
- Don’t Be Lazy with Your Tenders
- Can I Record a Lis Pendens in Arizona if the Lawsuit is filed Another Jurisdiction?
- HOA Foreclosure Excess Sale Proceeds Go to Owner
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
Liquidated Damages: Too High and It’s a Penalty. Too Low and You’re Out of Luck.
By: Christian Fernandez Liquidated damages provisions in commercial and residential real estate contracts play a vital role when a transaction goes south, and should be given careful consideration when negotiating a real estate contract. Liquidated damages may be referred to … Continue reading
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cfernandez
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Tagged actual damages, actual loss, anticipated loss, commercial real estate, construction, contractor, earnest money, good-faith deposit, insufficient liquidated damages, liquidated damages, liquidated damages too low, loss, non-refundable deposit, penalty, purchase and sale agreement, real estate, real estate litigation, unenforceable penalty
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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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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
Author:
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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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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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
Author:
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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Wait, You Want An HOA?! Restricting Implied Common-Interest Communities
By: Neal McConomy While the butt of many jokes and a thorn in the side of some property owners, homeowners associations (“HOAs”) serve the vital function of collecting and disbursing funds to care for and maintain common areas of residential … Continue reading
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nmcconomy
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Tagged CCIOA, common-interest communities, HOA, homeowner, homeowners association, homeowners' associations, real estate, real estate litigation, real property, residential, residential construction, residential real estate development
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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
Author:
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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Who says you can’t choose between liquidated damages or actual damages?
In Colorado, courts enforce liquidated damages provisions if three elements are satisfied: (1) the parties intended to liquidate damages; (2) the amount of liquidated damages was a reasonable estimate of the presumed actual damages caused by a breach; and (3) … Continue reading
Author:
Kevin Walton
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Tagged colorado real estate, developer, liquidated damages, real estate
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Orchestrating Bias: Arbitrator’s Undisclosed Membership in Philharmonic Group with Pauly Shore’s Attorney Not Grounds to Reverse Award in Real Estate Dispute
By: Lyndsey Torp The California court of appeal recently issued an unpublished decision in Knispel v. Shore, 2017 WL 2492535, affirming a judgment confirming an arbitration award in a real estate dispute involving Pauly Shore. The court of appeal held … Continue reading
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Lyndsey Torp
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Tagged arbitration, arbitrator, bias, disclosure, real estate
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Federal Court Issues Permanent Injunction and Permanently Shuts Down Santa Ysabel’s Desert Rose Bingo
By: Anthony J. Carucci On December 12, 2016, Judge Battaglia of the United States District Court for the Southern District of California issued the Court’s long-awaited ruling on the State of California and Federal Government’s motions for summary judgment in … Continue reading
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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Common Law Indemnity Claim Affirmed on Justifiable Beliefs
By Rick Erickson https://www.swlaw.com/people/rick_erickson Yesterday, the Arizona Court of Appeals issued an interesting opinion in Hatch Development v. Solomon. Hatch illustrated two key points in real estate and construction litigation: (1) a contractor’s indemnity does not always require an expressly … Continue reading
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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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
Author:
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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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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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
Author:
Richard Herold
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Tagged movie theater, real estate, shopping center, tax appeal, valuation, zoning
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Successful Laches Defense Becoming Commonplace in Colorado
By: Neal McConomy Boiler plate language in responsive pleadings often includes “Plaintiff’s claims are barred by the doctrine of laches” (or “The doctrine of laches bars Plaintiff’s claims” if you prefer the active voice). However, litigation of a laches defense … Continue reading
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nmcconomy
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Tagged Colorado, equitable defenses, laches, real estate, real estate litigation, real property, statute of limitation
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Arizona Chamber of Commerce Forms Policy Group for Real Estate and Community Development Issues
By: Bob Henry The Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry has formed a new policy committee for “Real Estate and Community Development Issues.” The Arizona Chamber’s policy committees—now 16 different committees that cover policy areas ranging from “Budget & Government Reform” … Continue reading
Governmental Power and Property Lines
By: Neal McConomy On May 27, 2014, the Colorado Supreme Court issued its opinion in Town of Dillon v. Yacht Club Condos. Home Owners Ass’n, 2014 CO 37. Overturning the rulings of both the trial court and the Colorado Court … Continue reading
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nmcconomy
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Tagged health, litigation, municipal, ordinance, parking, police power, rational basis, rational relationship, real estate, real property, safety, welfare
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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 … Continue reading
Author:
Kevin Parker
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Tagged real estate, seller disclosures, seller liabilty, seller non-disclosures
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A Compilation and Summary of Real Estate Related Legislation Enacted by the 51st Arizona Legislature
On Friday June 14, 2013, at 12:59 a.m., on the 152nd day of the regular legislative session, the 51st Arizona Legislature adjourned sine die, or “without assigning a day for a further meeting or hearing.” Generally, except as otherwise noted … Continue reading
Author:
Adam Lang
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Tagged bills, criminal trespass, deeds of trust, dilapidated, easements, flood control districts, flood protection districts, foreclosures, homeowners' associations, house, joint tenancy, legislators, legislature, mobile homes, mortgage insurance, planned communities, real estate, real estate licenses, real property, recreational vehicles, right-of-way, senate, state board of appraisal, statute
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The Risk of Intent in Your Letter of Intent
By: Richard Herold Although the press frequently reports cavalierly on the execution of a “letter of intent” (“LOI”), as if it is a meaningless document, a LOI can be enforced if the parties intend to be bound, which turns primarily … Continue reading
Author:
Richard Herold
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Tagged letter of intent, real estate, statute of frauds
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