BLOG: Property Tax Appeal
De Niro’s Tax Battle Ends With a Whimper
A few weeks ago we told you about Robert De Niro’s tax appeal on his estate overlooking the Hudson River in the tiny town of Gardiner, New York. Despite this writer’s belief that Mr. De Niro has every right to the appeal the actor not only dropped it, but will reimburse the town for its... Read More
Subpoenaed Appraisals Quashed by Attorney-Client Privilege
During discovery in these tax appeals, the defendant municipality became aware of appraisals prepared by a licensed real estate appraiser on the subject properties close in time to the valuation dates for the then pending appeals for tax years 2012 through 2014. Plaintiff’s refused to produce the appraisals. The defendant served a subpoena to produce... Read More
Taxpayer Foiled Despite Overcoming Presumption of Validity
In Michaud v. South Orange Village Township, the taxpayers challenged the $414,000 assessment on their single family home in Essex County. Despite overcoming the presumption of correctness which attaches to all New Jersey local property tax assessments, Pantasote Co. v. City of Passaic, 100 N.J. 408, 413 (1985), the taxpayers failed to convince New Jersey... Read More
Now playing: The Property Tax Appeal, starring Robert De Niro
When I first read about Robert De Niro’s pending tax appeal on his estate in the Hudson Valley, I thought of the endless possibilities for our tax appeal blog. I mean, this is the great Robert De Niro; Bobby D! He is an American film icon who has starred in dozens of great movies, including Raging... Read More
Township Punts, Loses at Trial and on Appeal
In Tomorrow 35 Davidson LP v. Township of Franklin, the Appellate Division upheld the New Jersey Tax Court’s significant reduction in the assessed value of the subject property – a four-story office building – for tax years 2009 (from $22,092,000 to $9,625,000), 2010 (from $19,127,000 to $7,075,000), and 2011 (from $19,127,000 to $5,958,000). At first... Read More
Tax Appeal Bill Introduced to Change Filing Deadlines Statewide
Two New Jersey assemblymen have introduced Assembly Bill A-3313 which would make a Monmouth County tax appeal pilot program applicable statewide. The program would permanently modify the timing of the appeal season and filing requirements in an attempt to settle assessment disputes prior to municipalities enacting their annual budgets. Although no feedback has been provided that... Read More
Princeton Ballet Society tripped up in the Tax Court
This past January we wrote about the denial of a property owner’s motion to dismiss a complaint filed by a municipality in Twp. of Cranbury v. Princeton Ballet Society, which alleged a property was not exempt from local property taxation. Defendant, Princeton Ballet Society (“PBS”), moved to dismiss the complaint filed by Cranbury, claiming that... Read More
Tax Appeal Plaintiff “Snake-Bitten”
In this appeal, Jaylin Holdings LLC v. Manchester Township, challenging the local property assessments for tax years 2009 through 2012, the court was confronted not only with lawyers and appraisers, but snakes! This appeal involved five parcels located in the Townships of Toms River and Manchester and subject to regulation by the New Jersey Department... Read More
Princeton University Wants Out of Morristown Courtroom
The Times of Trenton reported this week that Princeton University is seeking a change of venue in a challenge to the University’s local property tax exemption. In the underlying matter the plaintiffs, a group of Princeton residents, argue that because the University is earning hundreds of millions of dollars in patent royalty income and distributing some of that... Read More
Tax Court Prefers Quantitative, Not Qualitative Adjustments
Another County Tax Board judgment was affirmed after the property owner and the municipality both failed to overcome the presumption of correctness of the assessment with evidence that was “definite, positive and certain in quality and quantity. . . .” MSGW Real Estate Fund, LLC v. Borough of Mountain Lakes, 18 N.J. Tax 364, 373... Read More
