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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
Ocean County Court: Challenge to Redevelopment Plan Ordinance Premature
Ocean County Assignment Judge Vincent Grasso dismissed a declaratory judgment action filed by a redeveloper against the Township of Ocean finding that the redeveloper had to exhaust its administrative remedies before coming to the Court for relief. Alternatively, it appears that the redeveloper was seeking to partially invalidate or revise an ordinance that had been... 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
Sometimes Good Fences Don't Make Good Neighbors – Bubis v. Kassin – 20 Years Later
Almost twenty years ago, a new neighbor moved in across from Sophie Bubis’ house at 1 Ocean Place in Loch Arbour. At that time, in 1995, the new neighbors, Jack and Joyce Kassin bought the entire beachfront lot consisting of four + acres. Soon thereafter, the Kassins erected an eight foot high sand berm covered... Read More
Hoboken Property Freed from "In Need Of Rehabilitation" Designation
The historic Neumann Leather building sits on Observer Highway in Hoboken and long ago ceased operating as a tannery. Its industrial zoning clearly outmoded in today’s Hoboken. As recounted by the Hudson Reporter, residential and commercial developers have been salivating over the property for years, but the City has refused to modify the zoning to... Read More
Summary Judgment Affirmed Where Causation Supplied by Net Opinion
A New Jersey appellate court recently affirmed a trial court’s summary judgment dismissing a negligence action where plaintiff’s theory of causation was only supported with an expert’s net opinion. Sayta Sankalp, LLC v. Five Star Auction (opinion here). In the case, plaintiff sued defendant for damages to real property caused by fire. The parties were... 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
