Philadelphia

Four Top 2023 Philadelphia Commerce Court Opinions

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July 26, 2024
The Philadelphia commerce court, dedicated in part to creating an equitable and consistent body of commercial law, issued some 24 decisions last year. This article highlights four of the most consequential: In Ambox v. Pocklington, the court upheld judicial privilege to dismiss a retaliatory lawsuit. In LL Capital Partners v. Tambur, the court denied a stay request due to lack of concrete evidence of a criminal investigation. Apex Realty v. Elverta addressed the rights of junior creditors in sheriff’s sales, and Skw-B Acquisitions v. Stobba Residential saw the rare appointment of a receiver to manage mismanaged commercial property.

Too big to fail – Spring semester business law students learned how the rise and fall of railroads pioneered a path to deal with large-scale corporate bankruptcies

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June 17, 2024
Douglas Sasso (LAW ’26) shares a spotlight on a Spring 2024 Current Topics in Business Law course which covered the influence railroads had on the development of the American legal system. Focusing on the Penn Central bankruptcy, the course offered students a chance to study what was once the largest merger and bankruptcy in history and its affect on legal, regulatory, and economic systems.

10-Q&A Episode 13: Interview with Marcel Pratt, Managing Partner of Ballard Spahr’s Philadelphia office

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Abygaelle Loubeau talks with former Philadelphia City Solicitor and current Managing Partner of Ballard Spahr’s Philadelphia office about his successes and challenges in shifting from public service to private practice. Interviewer: Abygaelle Loubeau (LAW ’23) Guest: Marcel Pratt (LAW ’09), Managing Partner of Ballard Spahr’s Philadelphia Office, former City Solicitor for the City of Philadelphia

How Granting Cert in New Hampshire v. Massachusetts Could Impact Pennsylvania and Philadelphia

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The U.S. Supreme Court is considering granting cert on a case that could impact Pennsylvania’s ability to collect income taxes from non-residents and the city of Philadelphia’s ability to continue to apply its “requirement of employment” rule for the city’s wage tax. The Court has asked the acting solicitor general to weigh in on New Hampshire v. Massachusetts, a case in which New Hampshire is challenging Massachusetts’ practice of taxing nonresidents who previously worked in-state but now work remotely from home in New Hampshire.

Court Rejects Philadelphia’s Method of Assessing Condominium Properties

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A recent Philadelphia Court ruling rejected a new land valuation method used by the city to assess the property tax burden of condominium owners. In rejecting the city’s approach, the court embraced the traditional valuation process more commonly used to assess the amount of property tax condominium owners must pay.