Allegheny County Base Year Assessment System Lacks Uniformity.

There has already been a great deal of ink spilled, with more in the coming days, analyzing and criticizing this decision. If the past is an indicator, most will be erroneous.

“Eat Cheese or Die!”: Clever, but Does It Infringe?

In the name of tourism, states, cities and other “destinations” are always trying to figure out new slogans. The problem is: there are a lot of them in use out there. Too many.

Landlord & Tenant: Suing for the Security Deposit.

How do you know you will win if you claim the money withheld in court? You don’t.

Commercial Lending: When Can the Bank Accelerate the Balance Due?

A commercial loan borrower from Pittsburgh emailed AVVO Answers stating that he/she is 2 months delinquent and has received a notice stating that the loan must be paid in full within 30 days. Can they do this?

Pittsburgh Legal Newslog: Swine Flu and Emergency Powers of the Government.

The current emergency may well move the Uniform Act to the front burner in many state legislatures, including Pennsylvania.

Mortgage Foreclosure: The MERS factor.

But what is a “nominee” under the law? MERS doesn’t own the mortgage. It was simply named, for convenience, in place of the true owner. So then, why is MERS so often the named Plaintiff in mortgage foreclosures?

Landlord & Tenant: AVVO Answer on Terminating the Lease Due to Mice.

In a large apartment building, you can be extremely careful and never get rid of vermin. The feeding ground may be somewhere in the building out of your control. Don’t let the landlord blame you the tenant if you know you are not creating the problem. Still, if you wish to terminate the lease, be prepared to fight about it in court if the landlord sues you for back rent. This may involve more than a trip to the Magistrate. The loser has the right to appeal to arbitration and even to court. Whether you wish to undertake this risk may depend upon whether the lease states that you must pay the landlord’s attorney’s fees if you lose.

Pittsburgh Legal Newslog: Judge Conti Wins Inns of Court Award.

Judge Conti, was the first Summa Cum Laude graduate of Duquesne Law School in 1973 and has served as a professor in that Law School, President of the Allegheny County Bar Association and a partner in two prominent Pittsburgh law firms, prior to her appointment to the US District Court.

Earth Day in the Comics.

After Cathy bragged that her generation was committed to saving the environment, her mother asked her to unplug the computer and the numerous chargers of electronic devices that she cannot live without. She responds that she is too busy for that.

Will the Real Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh Please Stand Up!

Now, the two parties the schism are each claiming title to millions of dollars worth of Church property. The Calvary Church property dispute just happened to be in progress since 2003, making it an available battlefield for a dispute that will almost surely be resolved on appeal, and not until all appeals are exhausted.

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Welcome

CLIFF TUTTLE has been a Pennsylvania lawyer for over 45 years and (inter alia) is a real estate litigator and legal writer. The posts in this blog are intended to provide general information about legal topics of interest to lawyers and consumers with a Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania focus. However, this information does not constitute legal advice and there is no lawyer-client relationship created when you read this blog. You are encouraged to leave comments but be aware that posted comments can be read by others. If you wish to contact me in privacy, please use the Contact Form located immediately below this message. I will reply promptly and in strict confidence.

Pittsburgh Legal Back Talk

Legal topics of interest to lawyers and consumers with a Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania focus.

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