Real Estate Litigation

When it comes to property lines, disputes can arise from just about anything. This is especially true if one neighbor does not like what the other neighbor is doing on their side of the property line. Some of our readers here in Michigan may have experienced something similar and know

If a property owner knows about potential safety risks and does nothing to remedy the problems, then that property owner can be held liable for any injuries or deaths that occur on the property. At least, that’s what the law here in Michigan tells us and is relatively similar to

During the housing bubble in 2008, hundreds of thousands of homes were hastily constructed across the nation to meet the demand. Unfortunately, some of these homes were not built properly and may be violating constriction codes. Everything from defective building materials to cost-cutting measures to the employment of unskilled labor

Bad news was delivered by Judge Michael Klaeren in the 12th District Circuit court this month to a disabled man who had been fighting eviction from his Napoleon Township home. Fighting the eviction process since 2010, the recent court order to leave his home by the end of August was

When it comes to property lines in urban and even some suburban areas, most people don’t think too much about the boundaries of their properties. That’s usually because, in these areas, property lines are dictated by fences put up long ago, which are hardly ever argued when the property passes

You don’t need to tell readers of our blog about how complicated real estate law can get sometimes. With complex legal terminology and differing laws between each county, some property owners here in Michigan would agree that homeownership is not as simple as holding a deed. A Florida man is

When a couple in Birmingham, just north of Detroit, bought an 1895 Queen Anne-style Victorian home, they knew they had a large project on their hands. Looking at pictures of the home as it was in 1990 made the wife a little overwhelmed. The husband saw it as an oppurtunity

For those readers of our blog old enough to remember time before video games and social networking, summer days were usually spent taking bike rides to the beach and playing games in the street with neighborhood children. But if you’re a kid in Ypsilanti Township this month, your summer plans

Along with the recession came the plunge of the job market. Companies collapsed under the combination of diminishing revenue and mounting debt, forcing many of them to close their doors for good. As a result, once used store fronts became vacant spaces, simply waiting for their next tenant to arrive.

A complicated legal dispute out of Minnesota this month is reminding Michigan residents of the importance of accurate documentation and proper legal representation when it comes to litigation. That’s because, as this case points out, having the more right evidence to back up your claims can mean everything when it

A story out of North Carolina this month is bringing up some interesting questions for residents here in Michigan. The problem stems around a neighborhood that was built on an old landfill. With the ground sinking because of decomposition, residents are wondering who is liable for damages to their homes

Residents in the town of Brooksfield Township are fighting back against Huron County this month in an attempt to stop the county from imposing zoning laws that the city does not want. And according to a lawsuit filed by the Brookfield Township Clerk Michael Lorencz, this is a battle that

A panicked 911 call out of Washington state this month highlights the importance of seeking legal representation in property disputes before they get out of hand.  As many residents here in Michigan may remember, the call to 911 dispatchers came just days ago from a man who explained that his

The disclosure process when purchasing a home can sometimes be one of those necessary evils, expecially if the home you are trying to buy has a lot of problems that need attending to before you move in.  But the need of a roof replacement seems minimal when some Michigan residents

When General Motor’s filed for bankruptcy in 2009, the company left behind numerous manufacturing sites that had, for years, been polluting the groundwater below them. But none were as big as the Willow Run Powertrain Plant in Michigan’s own Ypsilanti Township. The 83-acre facility now sits on 4.1 million gallons

Just like the cleanup after a brutal storm, the state of Michigan is attempting to clean up after the recession. One of the hardest hit areas seems to be the housing market which has forced thousands of residents to relocate. As Congressman Dan Kildee explained recently, lost populations in cities

When Schostak Bros. first built the Cherrylander Center near Traverse City, the mall was supposed to bring in enough profit to pay off the $8.7 million loan used to build the commercial property. But when the economy downturned the family-owned development company was forced to default on its loan. In

Residents who live in the downtown areas of Michigan know that space is limited. And as readers of our blog have seen from previous posts, many developers have taken it upon themselves to reuse properties in areas with limited space and repurpose them to the needs of that particular area.

The Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians in the Upper Peninsula is facing further difficulties this month as once again their plans to build a casino in Lansing have been halted. Despite moving forward since it was first announced, a recent lawsuit filed by Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette

The real estate firm Elias Realty, located just to our south in Livonia, has found itself in hot water this month after the FBI issued a search warrant on their offices a week ago. Although the former state attorney general representing the firm in the case is confident that the

As many commercial real estate property owners in the state of Michigan are already aware, there are certain legal responsibilities that you must adhere to by state law. One such responsibility is that of providing a safe premise. If a person slips and falls on your property, you could be

When the city of Ann Arbor zoned a particular part of land for D2 use in the northeast corner of the city, they instantly knew it would cause problems for developers down the road. People who supported the decision saw the potential for economic growth if taller buildings were allowed

An easement is generally described as a nonpossessory interest in another person’s land usually stemming from a want or need to use someone else’s land for which the other person does not have ownership. Basically, an easement allows the holder to use the property, but prevents them from excluding others

Residents of Huntington Woods here in Michigan are no strangers to the fact that real estate properties are always evolving, changing the appearance of a town or city, always hopefully for the better. But what many people may not know is that the process is not as simple as just

Whenever city officials begin talking about changes to zoning laws, it’s always a concern of residents as to what will be “moving in” next door to them. But what if your new neighbor turns out to be a community garden? Or perhaps what is now being dubbed an “urban farm?”

With the fear of Global Warming constantly looming over our heads, many people across the nation are making conscious efforts to save the environment one carbon footprint at a time. For mining companies though, their efforts may have to be significantly more substantial if they want to negate their Big

Everyone in Michigan is familiar with the saying “if a tree falls in the middle of the woods, and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?” But in cases of storm damage, a new saying has people asking a similar question: if my tree falls

When it comes to building your dream home, the sky’s the limit and to you, anything goes. But what many people in Michigan don’t realize is that there are certain building codes that must be adhered to in the process. The general public is largely unaware of these building codes

During the housing slump, many homeowners across the United States, including people here in Michigan, found themselves struggling to pay their mortgages in a desperate attempt to save their homes. Many people turned to their banks who were offering families the opportunity to modify their existing loans. It seemed like

With winter fast approaching, many hockey and skating enthusiasts in the state of Michigan are already coming up with ideas for this year’s backyard ice rinks. For many avid fans of winter, there may even be plans to make a rink large enough for the entire neighborhood. For six years,