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North and South Dakota Clash Over CO₂ Pipeline Project
A multi-state pipeline project in the Midwest has sparked a tense standoff between North Dakota and South Dakota. South Dakota’s new law, which bans the use of eminent domain for carbon pipelines, threatens the viability of the project. This has prompted North Dakota officials to consider taking legal action against its southern neighbor. Let’s see... Read More
NJ Business Sues Municipality Following Cybersecurity Attack
45 Legion Drive LLC did what any legitimate business would do and sent property tax payments to the local taxing authority. Unbeknownst to them, the payments, totaling more than $550,000, were diverted into the less than legitimate pockets of cyber hackers. The company claims to have suffered significant financial losses and has filed a lawsuit... Read More
NJ Supreme Court to Hear Two Eminent Domain Cases
Two potentially significant eminent domain cases are set to be heard by the New Jersey Supreme Court. At the heart of these cases is the public use doctrine rooted in the U.S. Constitution and the New Jersey Constitution. Let’s see how these cases could impact the government’s use of this constitutional power. Township of Jackson... Read More
NJ Tax Court Judge Slashes Megamall’s $3.3 Billion Assessment
Last year when I clerked for the Tax Court of New Jersey, my fellow law clerks and I had the privilege of attending a property inspection for American Dream Mall’s multi-billion dollar tax appeal. The mega-mall recently scored a huge legal victory as Judge Gilmore reduced the assessment by a pretty penny. Let’s take a... Read More
Bostonians Furious Over Alleged Tax Assessment Penalties
Many commercial real estate owners in Boston can be described in one word: gobsmacked. Although they have appealed their property tax assessments, their assessments have soared sky high. This has caught the attention of a highly regarded non-profit which recently uncovered a potential conspiracy, causing many to question whether Bostonians are being secretly penalized for... Read More
NJ Tops List – Has Highest Property Taxes in the Country…Again
New Jersey doesn’t top many lists. For instance, U.S. News & World Report ranks it 49th in fiscal stability, 45th in opportunity, 31st in economy, and 19th overall. New Jersey Rankings | U.S. News Best States. But there is a list where the Garden State is safely at number 1: high property taxes. New Jersey... Read More
Property Owner Entitled to Compensation After Foreclosure Sale
The Pacific Legal Foundation secured a major victory in the New Jersey Superior Court, Appellate Division. Let’s delve into Johnson v. City of East Orange and explore how the appellate court’s decision is a great sign for property owners. Background Lynette Johnson bought a commercial property for her children in East Orange. Since the structure on... Read More
Ohio Group Seeks to Abolish Property Taxes
Beth Blackmarr nearly fainted when she saw that her home’s assessment increased by over 50% from the prior year. That’s when she decided enough is enough and joined a movement to end all property taxes in Ohio. The group, known as Citizens for Property Tax Reform, is a grassroots campaign based in Cuyahoga County. Recently,... Read More
Florida Couple Hit with Reassessment After “Substantial Improvements”
Imagine spending a significant amount of time and money on renovating a home, only to find that the property taxes have not only doubled, not only tripled, but multiplied six times over. Although this may sound like a real estate horror tale, Florida residents Walter and Debbie have experienced this firsthand. The couple’s dream waterfront... Read More
Could Property Taxes in Florida Be a Thing of the Past?
Governor Ron DeSantis’ ambitious proposal to completely eliminate Florida property tax represents unprecedented legal and fiscal territory. As the first state to potentially abolish property taxes entirely, Florida faces complex constitutional, administrative, and economic challenges that warrant comprehensive legal analysis. Legislative Framework and Constitutional Considerations The property tax in Florida currently operates through a millage... Read More
