Biggest US Landowner - 3,437.5 Square Miles

Business Insider has a terrific article, The 25 Biggest Landowners In The US, where we meet who controls the soil in our country.

The data behind the article was provided by The Land Report.

Most fascinating are the blurbs under each landowner that explains what you do with all of that land - there are ranchers, aerospace testers, foresters, lumber-manufacturers, equestrians, conservationists, farmers, and much more.

In perspective, Manhattan Island in New York City is 22.7 square miles or better stated - John Malone owns more land than 151 Manhattans.

Lease Guaranties & Modifications - Be Sure to Draft Modifications Carefully

The Appellate Division recently addressed a situation where a guaranty accompanying the original lease was enforced post-modification of that underlying lease in 4 USS LLC v. DSW MS LLC where the court ruled that the Guarantee could "recover under the terms of the lease, prior to its modification".

This means that where you make a deal to modify the terms of your lease, you may still be personally liable under the old guaranty for past breaches of that previous lease.

The takeaway from this case is to address the guaranty documents in the modification documents and expressly state the intentions of the parties as to past breaches and their enforceability post-modification.

Real estate agents often only think about getting the functional results that their clients expressly state accomplished - this case is a reminder of the necessity to clean up the past before emerging into the goals stated by your clients for the future.

Otherwise, the past can come back to bite you.

Lieb Leverages Informational Imbalances

Andrew Lieb's Radio Segment: Save a Deal From Pitfalls (Real Life - 88.3FM)

Here is a clip from Andrew Lieb's radio segment last week on Real Life 88.3 Peconic Broadcasting - You can check it out here. Topics discussed include real estate tips to close a deal for sellers and agents. Learn how to be proactive to save a deal from pitfalls.

Real Life Episode 69 - Saving A Deal

Surprises About Homeowners' Insurance You Probably Didn't Know

If you or your clients are in the process of purchasing property and want a resource guide that explains Homeowners' Insurance, check out Andrew Matthew Lieb's latest article featured in The Huffington Post.

Surprises About Homeowners' Insurance You Probably Didn't Know


Topics Include:

• Categories of Insurance
• Deductibles
• Property Damage Coverage
• Off-Premises Coverage
• Household Workers' Coverage
• Rental Issues
• Notice Requirements
• Mitigation Requirements
• Duty to Defend
• Declaratory Judgment Option: 

New Amendment Allows For Borrowers to Re-Modify Loans That Have Already Received a HAMP Modification If They Experience a New Hardship

Great news for those struggling with their mortgage after previously receiving a modification! Now, you can re-modify your mortgage due to recent amendments to the Making Homes Affordable (MHA) Handbook. On September 30^th, Treasury released Supplemental Directive 14-03, which provides new guidelines, updates and clarifications that servicers must follow.

To better understand these new amendments, previously, a servicer could not re-modify a loan that received a HAMP permanent modification until either the loan lost good standing or more than 5 years had passed since the permanent modification effective date.

Now, the new rule permits a loan that was previously permanently modified under HAMP to be re-modified regardless of loss of good standing so long as, either, the borrower has experienced a change in circumstance, or at least 12 months have passed since the HAMP Modification Effective Date. This amendment will allow for borrowers to re-modify loans that have already received a HAMP permanent modification if they experience a new hardship or if one year has passed.

Lieb at Law is Hiring a New Law School Graduate (Law Clerk / Entry Level Junior Associate)

Join a thriving law firm that leverages informational imbalances and leads our profession through advocacy and advice supported by cutting-edge technology and know-how.

You will be exposed to real estate litigation and assist in cases from real estate brokerage through landlord / tenant, premises liability, personal injury, foreclosure defense and more.

This is a litigation support position, inclusive of drafting legal memos, pleadings, discovery and motion practice. Deductive reasoning skills required. Must be a self-starter with ambition and drive.

Those that succeed in this position can earn a Junior Associate Attorney position once licensed. Partner track available for the highest level achievers.

This career opportunity is out of our Center Moriches office.

To Apply: Submit Cover Letter, Resume and Writing Sample to careers@liebatlaw.com 

Click here to learn more about Lieb at Law. 

Just Released: New York Metro Super Lawyers Magazine (Andrew Lieb is Featured)

2014 New York Metro Super Lawyers Magazine

The digital version of the New York Metro Super Lawyers Magazine contains the entire print publication. Andrew Lieb is featured on page 151.

Super Lawyers Magazine 2014

The New York Metro Super Lawyers supplement will be in The New York Times newspaper on Sunday 10/5/2014. Andrew Lieb is featured on page 143.

New York Times Supplement

Lieb Awarded Super Lawyers Rising Star 2014

Andrew Lieb, Esq. wins Rising Star Award by Super Lawyers!

We are thrilled to announce that Andrew Lieb has been named a Rising Star by Super Lawyers.

About Rising Stars

The Rising Stars list is developed using a patented multiphase selection process:

• To be eligible for inclusion in Rising Stars, a candidate must be either 40 years old or younger or in practice for 10 years or less.

• No more than 2.5 percent of the lawyers in a state are named to Rising Stars. 

To view Andrew Lieb's profile on Super Lawyers, click here

*Andrew Lieb will be featured in the October 5th edition of the Sunday New York Times. Remember to pick up the issue and share with your network! 

First Town in U.S. to Require Digital Carbon Monoxide Detectors

In New York, the Town of Brookhaven has become the first Town in the United States to require digital carbon monoxide detectors in every residential property. 

This new law comes after a fatal carbon monoxide exposure incident involving a restaurant manager in Huntington Station this past February. 

This new law amends Chapter 30 of the town’s code which previously mandated all buildings with human occupants to have carbon monoxide detecting devices or systems. The newly amended law maintains this mandate but now requires all homes to have carbon monoxide detectors or devices with digital outputs. While conventional detectors only sound an alarm when the carbon monoxide level has reached a dangerous level, the digital detectors display the amount of carbon monoxide gas present even at very low levels. This change in the law is significant because even low levels of carbon monoxide exposure can lead to health problems.  

Failure to comply with the Town Code may result in substantial fines and criminal charges. Additionally, homeowners who fail to update their carbon monoxide detection system may be held responsible for injuries or fatalities on their property related to exposure.

Per the amended Code, new homes are required to immediately install digital carbon monoxide detectors and existing homes must install digital carbon monoxide detectors by August 1, 2021.