Learn to avoid disputes among roommates or with the landlord. When two or more people sign the same rental agreement or lease — or enter into the same oral rental agreement — they are cotenants and share the same legal rights and responsibilities. However, there’s a special twist. One cotenant’s negative behavior — not paying…
Below are some guidelines for evicting a person in Chicago. Most of this Document assumes that the rental unit is covered by the Residential Ordinance. Under this Document the Chicago Residential Landlord Ordinance, Chicago Municipal Code Title 5 Chapter 12 is referred to as the RLTO. You can obtain a copy of this Ordinance on…
Tenants can remove fixtures at end of a commercial lease if it is the tenant’s personal property. When I was in law school my law professors preached that once a fixture becomes attached to the real estate it stays on the property. So, if you sold a house with a crystal chandelier, you could not…
Welcome to my new Facebook page. Keil Larson
Let’s say you buy a property built on sand. Then as the Good Book says, a storm happens and the house collapses. Is the realtor liable to you because he didn’t tell you that houses built on sand are not very stable? Probably not. In Illinois Normally a realtor can rely upon the disclosures of…
The pros and cons of corporations, LLCs, partnerships, sole proprietorships, and more. Type Advantages Disadvantages Sole Proprietorship Simple and inexpensive to create and operateOwner reports profit or loss on his or her personal tax return Owner personally liable for business debts General Partnership Simple and inexpensive to create and operateOwners (partners) report their share of…
Representing a lender in a long drawn out battle with a borrower over a nonpayment on a balloon mortgage. The note was secured by a vacate 3 story industrial property. Foreclosure was strenuously contested. Twice the borrower filed for Chapter 11 protection on the eve of the sheriff’s sale. In Illinois a sheriff’s sale terminates…
The Appellate Court reversed the trial court and found that the insured had an insurable interest in the house even though the court found that the transaction was an equitable mortgage. The decision was a rule 23 one. http://www.state.il.us/court/R23_Orders/AppellateCourt/2011/1stDistrict/1103026_R23.pdf Above is a copy of the decision. Keil Larson
Appellate Argument on a case I argued on November 22, 2011. This argument last 90 minutes. This is a lot more time than normal. I was pleased that the Justices understood the facts and devoted this much of their busy day to this matter. Here is the link. http://www.state.il.us/court/Media/Appellate/1st_District.asp The case was Tatum vs Allstate…
I have an oral argument on an appeal next week. It is an insurance coverage issue. I wonder if I will be prepared and answer the questions from the Justices ok. I read in magazines that oral arguments are getting rare. It will be an interesting experience. I feel my side is correct and hopefully…
The right for someone to use another’s property. In discussing these matters, lawyers have developed fancy words to describe the two land owners. The burdened property owner–i.e. Peter– is normally called the servient owner and the one person who benefits from the easement is called the dominant owner. Most easements are written but some are…
Bought a Home With Defects? Who’s Responsible? Shortly after moving into a new home you discovered your dream home is now a nightmare. There is water leaking from the roof, seeping in from the foundations, cracks in the foundation causing the floor to lean, mechanical systems not working, termites chewing the wood, etc. You call…
