LAW FIRM

MEDIA ROOM

 

Weiss Law Firm Lands Victory in State-Wide Challenge

The Law Offices of Ira Weiss won a state-wide victory after successfully challenging the constitutionality of an inherently flawed base-year system used to determine real estate taxes in Allegheny County. The ruling has implications on systems used for determining property values across Pennsylvania.

Judge R. Stanton Wettick's 94-page opinion declares Pennsylvania's property assessment law allowing the use of a base-year assessment without requiring reassessments violates the Pennsylvania Constitution. The ruling reveals base-year assessments are not intended to assess all properties at the same percentage of assessed value to actual value; they inherently cause significant disparities in the ratio of assessed value to fair market value; and they inevitably discriminate against owners of property in lower-value neighborhoods.

JUDGE WETTICK'S DECISION

Judge Wettick's Landmark Decision - Judge R. Stanton Wettick's detailed 94-page opinion declaring the base-year system used for assessing properties unconstitutional.

WEISS POST TRIAL BRIEF

Details of Property Assessment Trial - Post Trial Brief Submitted by The Law Offices of Ira Weiss.

ASSESSMENT TRIAL EVIDENCE

Assessment Trial Evidence - Report On Uniformity Of Real Property Assessment Under Indefinite Base Year Assessment Legislation In Pennsylvania. Almy, Gloudemans, Jacobs & Denne, Property Taxation And Assessment Consultants (Phoenix, Arizona).

MARKET TRENDS STUDY

Overview of Real Estate Trends - Professional Market Trends Study by expert Anthony Barna detailing real estate trends across Allegheny County.

EXPERT TRIAL EXHIBITS

Trial Exhibits - Exhibits on rates of change in property values.

SUPREME COURT RULING

Relevant Supreme Court Decision - Downingtown Area School District v. Chester County Board of Assessment Appeals and Lionville Station S.C. Associates.

ALLEGHENY COUNTY REPORT

Allegheny County Report - Report of Allegheny County Office of the Controller on School Districts' Compliance with Act 146 Real Estate Tax Revenue Limitation 105 percent Windfall Provision.