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Great 8, Number 8: Pennsylvania Coal v. Mahon
For the final case in my “Great 8”, who else but Holmes? Before we get there, a quick caveat on “great cases” (from Holmes): “Great cases like hard cases make bad law. For great cases are called great, not by reason of their real importance in shaping the law of the future, but because of... Read More
It’s the Same Old Song, This Time in North Carolina
“Now it’s the same old song, But with a different meaning since you been gone” Those lyrics have stood the test of time, as has the use of eminent domain power for purposes that probably were not contemplated by our founding fathers when they created the Bill of Rights to the United States Constitution and... Read More
NJ Supreme Court – Malanga v West Orange – Redevelopment Criteria “d” Interpreted
Hot off the presses, Chief Justice Rabner issued the Court’s unanimous opinion on Monday reversing a “blight” designation by the Township of West Orange. The full opinion is here. While we are still digesting the opinion, I believe its the first substantive interpretation of criterion “d” by our Supreme Court since Wilson v. City of... Read More
NJ Property Taxes Are Skyrocketing – What Else is New?
A recent report concluded the obvious – along with the cost of living, the average cost of a residential property tax bill in New Jersey increased in 2022 over the average cost in 2021. While the average increase was reported to be a little over 2%, making the average residential property tax bill nearly $9500/year,... Read More
Atlantic City Casinos at Center of Property Tax Dispute
This is a reminder that, in most NJ municipalities, the deadline to file a 2023 property tax appeal is fast approaching on April 3, 2023. If you believe you may be overassessed, contact us at info@mrod.law for a complimentary evaluation of your 2023 property tax assessment. Last year, a Superior Court judge struck down a... Read More
Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association Exemption Upheld on Appeal
A 2021 decision by the Tax Court of New Jersey that granted a property tax exemption to a local religious organization in Monmouth County was recently affirmed by the Appellate Division in a reported per curiam opinion. The Township of Neptune had appealed the determination of the Tax Court granting an exemption to the Ocean... Read More
MROD Hits Early Milestone in Office Tax Assessment Reductions for 2023
McKirdy Riskin Olson & DellaPelle, a boutique law firm handling both condemnation and property tax matters, has already surpassed one of its internal milestones for the 2023 year by achieving reductions in taxpayer assessments of over 30 million dollars of total market value for commercial office properties. These reductions in tax assessments, which apply to... Read More
“Too Little, Too Late” – Appeal of $118,000,000 Assessment Dismissed as Untimely
Ouch. This is a huge reminder that, in most NJ towns, property tax appeals must be filed this year on or before April 3, 2023. And you better be on time! Last month, the Tax Court of New Jersey dismissed a commercial taxpayer’s appeal of a new assessment resulting from a municipal revaluation as being... Read More
Great 8, Numbers 6 & 7: Cat in the Hat & Suydam
Two for one Friday, or the Daily-Double! There was a raging debate twenty years ago (tempus fugit!) about what happens when government acquires allegedly contaminated property for public use. Parties clashed over whether property seized by eminent domain should be valued considering the impact of the alleged contamination upon the value, or whether the contamination... Read More
Eminent Domain and Professional Sports Worlds Collide Again
The SoCal city of Inglewood is back in the news, as it appears likely that it will be seizing private properties again in connection with its new sports and entertainment district which includes a $2 billion basketball arena that will become home to the LA Clippers professional basketball team. In early 2021, Inglewood first authorized... Read More
