Features
PA Court: Vacant Lot Valueless Without Zoning Variance
The Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court affirmed a decision by the city of Philadelphia's Zoning Board of Adjustment (ZBA) that a real estate developer's evidence established an unnecessary hardship because it proved that the property, a vacant lot that needed costly environmental remediation, was practically valueless without the granting of a variance under the Philadelphia Zoning Code.
Columns & Departments
Landlord & Tenant Law
Liquidated Damages Clause Might Constitute Unenforceable Penalty
Features
Claim Against Amazon and Starbucks for Illegal Tracking of Biometric Info Fails
Amazon and Starbucks were granted a motion to dismiss most claims against them in a proposed class action alleging that the companies illegally tracked consumers' biometric information.
Features
New York's Good Cause Eviction Law: An Overview and Impact Analysis
The effectiveness of the Good Cause Eviction Law will largely depend on its implementation and the local adaptations that municipalities outside New York City decide to enact. Both landlords and tenants should stay informed about the specifics of how this law is applied in their respective locales and how it will be interpreted and handled in the judicial system.
Features
The Future Viability of 105(a) Injunctions Following the Supreme Court's Decision In 'Purdue Pharma'
Until now, a successful reorganization assumed the debtor could confirm a plan with nondebtor releases and injunctions based on less than full creditor consensus. Now that nonconsensual releases in Chapter 11 plans are no longer permitted, will debtors have a more difficult time obtaining a 105(a) injunction?
Features
Supreme Court Upholds Names Clause in Trademark Law, Emphasizing Historical and Traditional Foundations
In a landmark decision, the U.S. Supreme Court has unanimously upheld the constitutionality of the Lanham Act's provision that prohibits the registration of trademarks consisting of or comprising the name of a particular living individual without the individual's written consent.
Columns & Departments
Co-ops and Condominiums
Condominium Purchaser Was On Inquiry Notice of Unrecorded Easement Condominium Board May Not Depart from Declaration's Funding Provisions Failure to Make Repairs Does Not Excuse Failure to Pay Common Charges
Features
SCOTUS: Prospective Relief Is Only Remedy Necessary to Resolve Unconstitutional U.S. Trustee Fee Scheme
In a recent decision, the U.S. Supreme Court held that the government was not required to refund millions of dollars paid by a Chapter 11 debtor pursuant to an unconstitutional fee scheme between the judicial districts.
Features
Fifth Circuit Agrees With 'Cleary': Corporate Debtors Are Subject to Section 523(a) In Subchapter V Case
Armed with two circuit-level decisions, creditors who lose at the bankruptcy court level may feel encouraged to appeal. As of now, no court in the Second Circuit has addressed the issue and it remains to be seen how other courts will react.
Columns & Departments
Landlord & Tenant Law
Notice Sufficient In Action to Eject Occupant Lease's Taking Clause Excuses Tenant from Payment of Rent<br Village's ETPA Resolution Upheld Landlord's Delay In Providing Itemized Statement Precludes Landlord from Retaining Any Portion of Security Deposit Assignee Liable for Breach of Lease Constructive Eviction and Warranty of Habitability Defenses Rejected
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