What is an Appraisal?
Memorial Day is approaching and, with it, the unofficial start of summer. Many minds turn to thoughts of cookouts, inviting friends over to swim in backyard pools, and evenings spent playing basketball games on driveways....more
Washington state recently enacted some changes that may impact married couples and registered domestic partners. Under the new Spousal Personal Residence Exclusion, when a spouse/partner passes away on or after January 1,...more
Across the country, housing costs are steadily rising due to the growing shortage of homes available to sell or rent. With new leadership in key House and Senate committees and provisions of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act set...more
Residential construction contracts will often contain technical terms or jargon that leave many homeowners with uncertainty. Homeowners should be cautious of implicitly agreeing to language they do not understand when...more
Last week, 10 California homeowners filed suit in Los Angeles County Superior Court against the California FAIR Plan Association (CFPA) and several of its largest insurance company members. Plaintiffs allege defendants...more
On April 4, 2025, the California Attorney General announced that it had reached a settlement with a California-based realty company concerning claims that the company had violated California false advertising, unfair...more
Before shifting my practice from estate planning to estate litigation, I witnessed up close the challenges and frustrations associated with the California probate process. That has changed for many Californians. Assembly Bill...more
California’s Assembly Bill 2016 – which goes into effect April 1 – introduces significant positive changes to the probate process, particularly for primary residences. The law raises the value threshold for primary residences...more
On March 7, Arizona Attorney General (AG) Kristin Mayes filed a novel lawsuit alleging consumer fraud and racketeering against numerous entities, individuals, and even law firms and title companies involved in the residential...more
Montes v. Universal Property & Casualty Insurance Co., Fla. 2d DCA, No. 2D2023-1200, February 12, 2025 - The Second District Court of Appeal revived an insurance coverage suit a homeowner brought against his insurance...more
In Gharibian et al., v. Wawanesa General Insurance Company, the California Second District Court of Appeal found that, under California law, the insureds failed to prove smoke, soot, ash and fire debris on covered property...more
The blacklisting of condominium/condo associations by financial institutions and insurance providers has emerged as a pressing issue in the real estate finance and housing sector. This practice, which involves lenders or...more
Howard Roy Housen and Valerie Housen v. Universal Property & Casualty Insurance Company, Fla. 4th DCA, No. 4D2023-2720, January 22, 2025 - The Fourth District Court of Appeals found that the homeowners demonstrated excusable...more
With the recent developments at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), many mortgage lenders have been left wondering about the extent to which the CFPB will enforce federal laws governing the mortgage lending...more
Holding Insurance Companies Accountable, LLC v. Leonard Caruso v. American Integrity Insurance Company of Florida, Fla. 5th DCA, No. 5D2023-2810, January 3, 2025 - The homeowner reported roof damage to his homeowners...more
Speakers from Ohio REALTORS, the County Commissioners Association of Ohio, Bricker Graydon LLP, and the public and private sectors will share insights on successful public-private partnership models involving public finance...more
Households impacted by the Los Angeles fires may be eligible for two new financial relief programs announced by Los Angeles County and the state of California this month. On February 14, 2025, the Los Angeles County...more
Join Kennedys partners Forrest Booth and Neil Mody for an insightful webinar which will explore the complexities of handling first-party property insurance claims arising from California's devastating wildfires. Moderated...more
With the currently revolving door of directors at the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)—which may soon be on its fourth director in 2025 alone—and an order issued by Acting CFPB Director Russell Vought to...more
The recent fires in California had a devastating impact on various communities, with many homeowners losing or facing severe damage to their properties. As residents begin the challenging process of recovery, understanding...more
On February 25, 2025, California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara issued a bulletin expanding the previously announced one-year moratorium preventing homeowners insurance cancellations and non-renewals to those affected by...more
It is the stuff of nightmares. Dr Yevhen Hunyak, described by the Judge in the case as "a cautious person", and Iya Patarkatsishivili were careful to visit their prospective home more than half a dozen times between Spring...more
Montgomery County is taking decisive action to expand affordable housing options and support the County’s residents with the More Housing N.O.W. (New Options for Worker) legislation package....more
Welcome to the latest issue of Insurance Insights, a gathering of notable legal developments and trends relevant to the insurance industry. In this issue, fires alter the landscape of California insurance, an expert’s...more
To say that California has been hard-hit by wildfires would be a gross understatement. California, the most populous U.S. state and the third largest by area and home to iconic landmarks, such as the Golden Gate Bridge,...more