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No One is Safe! Chicago Suburb Aims to Buy – or Take – Pope Leo XIV’s Childhood Home
In early May, Robert Prevost was introduced to the world as Pope Leo XIV, the first American Pope. Pope Leo was raised in the small suburb of Dolton, Illinois, where his family resided for nearly 50 years. Following the pontiff’s recent introduction, Dolton has now made it clear that intends to acquire Pope Leo’s childhood... Read More
Filing a Self-Represented Property Tax Appeal? Use Caution!
New Jersey property owners share a common challenge: high property taxes. However, there’s a glimmer of hope because property owners can appeal their assessments and potentially reduce their property taxes. While many hire attorneys to represent them through the tax appeal process, some choose to file without representation. What are the pros and cons of... Read More
15 States Sue Trump to Stop Fast-Tracked Energy Expansion
On the first day of President Trump’s second term, he signed Executive Order 14156, entitled “Declaring a National Energy Emergency.” That EO directs the heads of executive departments and federal agencies — including the United States Army Corps of Engineers, the Department of Interior, and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation — to issue permits... Read More
NC Supreme Court: Condo Developer Entitled to Just Compensation
When the government takes private property using the power of eminent domain, the property owner is entitled to receive just compensation. But what happens when another party shows up with an interest in the property? Should they get a slice of the compensation pie? In a legal showdown that could have been from a real... Read More
Paterson Kicks 5.6% Proposed Tax Hike… For Now
It turns out that when a budget proposal includes a significant property tax increase, city residents are about as thrilled as a cat in a bathtub. The mayor of Paterson’s proposed 2025 budget of $302 million, which includes a 5.6% increase in property taxes, has faced opposition from City Council members and residents who believe... Read More
New Jerseyans, Expect Tax Policy Changes in 2026
Listen up, New Jerseyans! If you haven’t heard yet, Governor Murphy unveiled his budget plan for 2026: a staggering $58.1 billion, the highest budget ever proposed in New Jersey’s history. To finance such a massive budget, the governor has recommended several revenue-raising measures, including tax policy changes. Some of these proposed changes may have implications... Read More
Fourth Circuit Reverses Summary Judgment in Favor of Pipeline Company
This case serves as a reminder that the client usually knows more about their property that anyone else. Don’t hesitate to put them on the stand! The Fourth Circuit issued an opinion on January 27, 2025 in Mountain Valley Pipeline, LLC v. 0.32 ACRES OF LAND, Owned by Grace Minor Terry. Full opinion here: Mountain Valley... Read More
NJ Tax Court: Spent Nuclear Fuel is…Taxable!
Earlier this year, the N.J. Tax Court resolved an interesting case that intersected nuclear physics and private property rights. In a published opinion in Exelon Generation Co LLC, etc. v. Twp. of Lacey, the Court addressed a novel issue “as to whether [nuclear fuel] storage casks are taxable as real property. Property that is... Read More
Can You Fight Eminent Domain? Understanding Your Legal Rights in New Jersey
When that certified letter arrives notifying you that the government wants to take your property through eminent domain, it’s natural to feel powerless. Many property owners mistakenly believe they must simply accept whatever compensation is offered and move on. This analysis clarifies a critical point of law: property owners in New Jersey possess substantial legal... Read More
Supreme Court to Decide if Eviction Moratorium Constitutes Fifth Amendment Taking
The United States Supreme Court stands at a pivotal crossroads in property rights jurisprudence as it considers whether to hear a case that could fundamentally reshape the relationship between government emergency powers and private property rights. At issue is whether government-imposed eviction moratorium measures during the COVID-19 pandemic constituted a “taking” under the Fifth Amendment,... Read More
