Peterson Law Group Blog

Commercial Real Estate Litigation in Los Angeles: CEQA, Disputes & Defending Your Property Rights

By Peterson Law Group on March 15, 2025

Close-up of a wooden gavel with a brass band resting on a judge’s block, with legal books and scales of justice blurred in the background. The image represents commercial real estate litigation in Los Angeles, emphasizing property rights, CEQA disputes, and legal defense in complex property cases.

Commercial property owners and developers in Los Angeles face a challenging legal landscape. From environmental regulations to valuation disagreements and government land acquisition, litigation is often an unfortunate but necessary part of doing business in LA real estate.

Posted in: Civil Litigation

Subsidence and Property Rights: Addressing Ground Movement Issues in California

By Peterson Law Group on March 11, 2025

Judge’s gavel on desk with attorney writing in the background

Land subsidence is a phenomenon that occurs from the gradual sinking or sudden collapse of the ground’s surface. It’s an increasingly common issue across California that’s typically caused by groundwater extraction, oil and gas operations, seismic activity, and even natural settling.

What Type of Property Is Exempt from Eminent Domain in Los Angeles? Know Your Rights

By Peterson Law Group on February 26, 2025

A wooden gavel rests beside balanced golden scales of justice on a courtroom desk. The image symbolizes fairness and due process in California eminent domain law, illustrating property owners’ rights when determining which types of property are exempt from government seizure in Los Angeles.

While the power of eminent domain is broad, not all properties are subject to seizure. California law carves out certain exemptions, and it’s important to know where your property stands.

Posted in: Eminent Domain

Legal Strategies for Wildfire Victims: The Power of Inverse Condemnation Claims

By Peterson Law Group on February 24, 2025

A wildfire with a helicopter dropping water.

Los Angeles wildfires have become a devastating reality for many homeowners in Southern California. With every fire season, residents face the harsh possibility of losing everything—their homes, their memories, and their sense of security. If you’ve been impacted by a wildfire in LA, understanding your legal options is crucial. Among the most powerful strategies for recovery is filing an inverse condemnation claim, a legal path that could help you recover losses if a government agency or utility company is responsible for the wildfire damage.

Top 5 Mistakes LA Property Owners Make in Partial Taking Cases

By Peterson Law Group on January 20, 2025

A wooden judge’s gavel rests beside golden scales of justice on a polished courtroom desk, symbolizing fairness and balance in law. The image represents Los Angeles property owners navigating partial taking cases and avoiding common legal mistakes in eminent domain proceedings.

If your property in Los Angeles is affected by a government project like a highway expansion, utility easement, or Metro rail extension, you may be facing a partial taking under California’s eminent domain laws. While the government is legally allowed to take private property for public use, you still have rights, and the compensation offered to you is negotiable.

Posted in: Eminent Domain

How Eminent Domain Can Affect Your Taxes in Los Angeles: What Property Owners Need to Know

By Peterson Law Group on January 10, 2025

The downtown Los Angeles skyline under a bright blue sky, featuring modern skyscrapers and colorful mid-rise buildings surrounded by residential neighborhoods and palm trees. The image represents how eminent domain and property tax laws impact property owners across the diverse Los Angeles landscape.

When the government takes private property in Los Angeles under eminent domain, the first thing most landowners focus on is compensation. But there’s another financial consequence that’s often overlooked until it’s too late: taxes.

Posted in: Eminent Domain

Navigating Partial Takings in Eminent Domain: What California Property Owners Need to Know

By Peterson Law Group on October 20, 2024

A judge holding a gavel

Partial takings present a complex challenge for California property owners who find themselves navigating the intricacies of public-use land acquisitions. A partial taking occurs when a government entity or authorized agency seizes only a portion of a property, often leaving the owner with a diminished and potentially less functional parcel. This scenario commonly arises in the context of infrastructure expansion, such as road widening projects, that necessitate the acquisition of strips of private land. The ramifications of such takings extend beyond mere loss of property, impacting the overall value and future utility of the remaining land.

Posted in: Eminent Domain

Can You Challenge an Eminent Domain Taking?

By Peterson Law Group on September 20, 2024

A judges gavel about to hit a small floating house.

In the realm of property rights, eminent domain presents a significant challenge for property owners, particularly in California, where real estate is a valuable asset. When the government exercises its power to seize private property for public use, property owners may feel uncertain about their rights and the compensation they are entitled to. However, there is a pathway to challenge an eminent domain taking, especially if there are concerns regarding the legitimacy of the public purpose, the adequacy of the compensation, or the procedures followed by the authorities.

Posted in: Eminent Domain

Zoning Changes: How to Challenge New Zoning Regulations

By Peterson Law Group on July 30, 2024

A little toy house on a small map of a city.

California zoning regulations are fundamental to property management. They govern land use and development across residential, commercial, and industrial sectors. These regulations also dictate how land can be utilized, significantly influencing property values.

Posted in: Civil Litigation

How to Determine Liability in Subsidence Cases

By Peterson Law Group on July 15, 2024

A scale of justice and a judges gavel.

Subsidence is the gradual sinking or settling of the ground’s surface. It can be a natural or human-caused occurrence. Natural subsidence includes phenomena like sinkholes and erosion, where the ground collapses or wears away due to natural processes such as water dissolution of underground materials. On the other hand, man-made subsidence results from human activities such as mining and construction, which can cause the ground to destabilize and sink.

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