Why Community Groups Can Never Win Against Developers
The 'Dreikausesn' Paradox, Other Hurdles, and Suggestions for Change
Under current New York law, even the most meritorious legal challenge to property development faces insurmountable barriers once construction starts, because absent the most egregious wrongdoing, the courts will not order demolition of completed buildings, and current law makes it virtually impossible to obtain a preliminary injunction to halt construction.
Case Notes
It's Not the Money Spent, It's the Level of Conformance
'Dirt for Debt' In Bankruptcy Plans of Reorganization
November 01, 2019
A debtor's goal in a Chapter 11 Bankruptcy is to confirm a "plan of reorganization." Creditors usually have the right to vote for or against a plan, and in some cases, a plan can be confirmed over the objection of one or more classes of creditors. This is called a "cram-down." The Bankruptcy Code's rules governing cram-down are complex and differ for secured and unsecured classes of creditors. This article shows how bankruptcy courts have ruled on a particular method of cram-down known as a "dirt-for-debt" plan.
Structuring Strategies for Off-Balance-Sheet Treatment of Real Property Leases
November 01, 2019
The Financial Accounting Standards Board released a new set of lease accounting standards, ASC 842, which went into effect earlier this year. Most significantly, publicly traded companies are now obligated to list all leases of 12 months or longer on their balance sheets as both assets and liabilities. Large private companies will follow suit in 2020.
Development
Mining Prohibition Not Pre-Empted By State Law and Not In Violation of SEQRA
Dog Training Facility Not a Customary Home Occupation,br>
Landowner Not Entitled to Variance When Hardship Is Not Unique to the Parcel
ZBA Did Not Consider Statutory Variance Factors
Case Notes
Defense Based on Federal Law Cannot Confer Federal Jurisdiction
Landlord & Tenant Law
Tenant Not Entitled to Recover Consequential Damages for Second Hand Smoke
Tenant Failed to Establish Constructive or Actual Eviction
Failure to Send Statutory Notice Subjects Apartment to Rent Stabilization
Overcharge Claim Dismissed Because DHCR Had Primary Jurisdiction
A Tenant's Perspective on SNDAs: Non-Disturbance Is Not Enough
October 01, 2019
Part Two of a Two-Part Article
Part One of this article outlined the basic elements of a subordination, non-disturbance and attornment agreement (SNDA), which regulates two competing interests in the same property — tenant's right to possess its premises pursuant to its lease and mortgage lender's security interest in that same premises. Part Two explains the differences between the concepts of "non-disturbance" and "recognition," while contending that lease recognition is more important to the tenant than not having its possession disturbed.
Legal Possession: What Does It Mean?
Possession of real property is a matter of physical fact. Having the right or legal entitlement to possession is not "possession," possession is "the fact of having or holding property in one's power." That power means having physical dominion and control over the property.
