Samuel B. Moskowitz and Rebecca L. Andrews Win Significant Massachusetts Land Court Case

October 08, 2010 - Boston, MA
For more information contact: Joanne Thorud
(617) 589-3894; jthorud@davismalm.com

On October 7, 2010, Davis Malm attorneys Samuel B. (Sandy) Moskowitz and Rebecca L. Andrews won a significant victory for their condominium-unit-owner clients in a much-anticipated Massachusetts Land Court decision supporting developer flexibility in setting percentage interests in condominiums containing affordable housing units. The case involved a challenge to a 20-year old condominium's schedule of percentage interests by the owners of units subject to affordable housing restrictions limiting the prices at which they could be sold. Those owners had argued that, in setting the percentage interests in 1988, the developer had unlawfully ignored the price restrictions on the affordable units and thus assigned percentage interests to those units that were too high, leading to the affordable units being overcharged for common expenses for 20 years. Judge Trombly of the Land Court rejected their arguments, ruling that the Condominium Statute did not obligate the developer to set the units' percentage interests based on their original sale prices and that the developer had properly taken other considerations into account when he assigned percentage interests per the units' relative "fair values," as the Statute provided. While the decision was pending, the Condominium Statute was amended to provide more flexibility in this regard, but it is not clear that the amendment can be applied retroactively and it was not a factor in the Court's decision.

Mr. Moskowitz is a Real Estate and Litigation attorney with almost 30 years of experience. He has extensive experience in a broad range of real estate matters, including title issues, leasing, development, conveyancing, and mortgage lending. Over his legal career, Mr. Moskowitz has developed an acknowledged expertise in all facets of condominium law, including both residential and commercial condominium development, operation, and financing. Sandy’s practice also includes real estate and business litigation, and the representation of closely held businesses.

Ms. Andrews practices in the Litigation and Real Estate and Environmental areas. Her practice focuses on business, corporate, and commercial litigation. She has extensive experience in contracts, construction, landlord/tenant, real property, commercial, torts, condominium matters, and professional malpractice.

About Davis, Malm & D'Agostine, P.C.
Founded in 1979, Davis Malm is a premier mid-sized, full-service New England firm. The firm provides sophisticated, cost-effective legal representation to local, national, and international public and private businesses, institutions, and individuals in a wide spectrum of industries. The attorneys at the firm practice at the top level of the profession and deliver successful results to clients through direct partner involvement, responsive client service, and practical and creative problem solving.