Our Legal Blog
“Takin’ it up the tailpipe:” A DC Rent Control exemption cautionary tail
April 25, 2018 The DC Rent Contol Law is actually a convoluted stew of esoteric code and regulation sections. If you are burdened by logic and reason, you have little hope of understanding this flaming trash heap of a statutory scheme. However, for all of its shortcomings, it is actually clear on one point. IF a landlord is eligible for a Rent Control exemption, he or she MUST, file the exemption AND serve the affected tenants SIMULTANEOUSLY with the filing. If the landlord fails to do this, the exemption is VOID. 14 DCMR § 4101.6; Levy v. District of Columbia Rental Housing Commission...
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Is your ABC Settlement Agreement putting your bar in double jeopardy?
April 16, 2018 In a regulatory environment perfect for owners, there would be no such thing as an ABC Settlement Agreement. But, the regulatory environment isn’t perfect. The government has always allowed the public to ‘weigh-in’ on how a new liquor license or change to an existing license might affect the neighborhood.
Read More DC Liquor License Update – March 2018
April 11, 2018 This month I wrote two posts about specific types of violations that cause DC Bar owners fits: sale to minors and investigation interference. Learn the anatomy of these issues, what you can do to avoid them, and how to mitigate losses. Additionally, there are a number of reminders and upcoming programs to help you stay on top of your compliance obligations.
Read MoreDC Real Estate Law Update – March 2018
April 6, 2018 There were several significant happenings this month in the world of D.C. Real Estate. Right off the bat on March 1, the Court of Appeals came down with a ruling that impacts the priority of condominium liens. (details below) Not to be outdone by the Courts, the Council amended TOPA to exempt single family accommodations and is considering a rollback of the much-decried bankruptcy exception. Additionally, there are a number of upcoming programs and events to help you stay on top of the changes.
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Our Legal Blog
Do you need to get your condo units to market faster?
February 8, 2018 I’ve handled dozens of condominium and cooperative projects for owners and developers and by far the biggest complaint is the amount of time that the process takes from beginning to end. As experienced DC real estate developers and agents can tell you, timing is extremely important to the success of any sales project.
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Legal Changes Ahead For Liquor Licenses
January 29, 2018 With two (2) new board members sworn-in on January 24, 2017, and the Council considering both the Mayor’s proposed changes to the law and the Board’s Final Rulemaking to amend the Municipal Regulations, there are changes abound for the gamut of license types.
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It’s Not Worth Fighting Over
January 27, 2018 I can’t even count the number of times that a potential client has come to me, with a juicy, winning litigation case, with one big problem… the amount of money in dispute is less than the legal fees will be. Frustrating, for both of us. The problem is that litigation is an alternate financial reality. In litigation world, $15,000 is not a lot of money. In the real world, it is.
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But When Do I Call Saul?
January 18, 2018 “Rich, there is some crazy B[eep], in here and she is acting a fool,” is what the voice on the other end of the phone said to me. It had barely even registered to me who was calling when I heard screaming and cursing in the background, and some thumps, and crashes that I couldn’t identify-but didn’t sound good. “What, you mean right now?! Hang up and call the cops for God’s sake!”
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Watch Your F***ing Mouth
January 8, 2018 I swear, a lot. I mean really, a lot. If you’ve ever had a conversation with me that has lasted longer than three minutes, chances are I said ‘fuck,’ probably more than once. I swear in casual conversation, in routine business dealings, and in ending arguments before repeatedly slamming the phone down in the cradle hard enough to obliterate the handset and send plastic phone shrapnel flying all over my office.
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