Dworken & Bernstein has a long history of representing sellers, buyers, and developers in all matters relating to zoning and land use, including representation in connection with efforts to obtain zoning permits, easements, conditional use permits, variances, confirmation of non-conforming use status, lot splits, lot line adjustments, septic systems, and zoning changes and amendments. Such representation includes appearing on behalf of clients before administrative and legislative bodies and, where necessary, before state and federal courts in connection with appeals and litigation relating to zoning and land use, including litigation challenging the validity and enforceability of zoning laws, both generally and as applied to the property, project, or proposed projects of our clients.

Zoning & Land Use Attorneys

Keith R. Kraus
Jodi Littman Tomaszewski
Melvyn E. Resnick
Howard S. Rabb
Joshua J. Strickland
Erik L. Walter
Grant J. Keating
Richard N. Selby II
Steven Roth

In Ohio property taxes are billed in arrears. Property owners can challenge the County Auditor’s valuation of their real estate by filing a tax complaint with the County Board of Revision before the end of March to challenge the fair market value for the previous year.

Dworken & Bernstein represents commercial, industrial, and residential land owners in filing and prosecuting tax complaints to challenge the tax valuation of their real estate with the various Ohio County Boards of Revision and to appeal Board decisions to the Board of Tax Appeals or to the County Common Pleas Courts when necessary. We are experienced in working with expert appraisers in order to determine the value of the client’s real estate and to properly present that information to the Board of Revision and on appeal. We are adept at negotiating with the various County prosecutors, auditors, and school boards to resolve disputed valuations during the complaint process.

Read full article entitled “New Uncertainties in Real Estate Taxation”,
written by Jodi Littman-Tomaszewski and Josh Strickland

Tax Complaints Attorneys

Keith R. Kraus
Jodi Littman Tomaszewski
Melvyn E. Resnick
Howard S. Rabb
Joshua J. Strickland
Steven Roth

Dworken & Bernstein represents individuals and businesses whose properties are being appropriated by governmental agencies for public purposes under the eminent domain laws of Ohio. In an eminent domain proceeding the individual or business whose property is being taken is entitled to a jury trial to determine fair market value if the parties cannot reach an agreeable settlement. Dworken & Bernstein develops the fair market value of the property being appropriated through the use of expert appraisers in order to ensure that our clients are fairly compensated in accordance with Ohio law for the taking of their property.

Dworken & Bernstein has successfully tried over thirty eminent domain cases to juries and has obtained awards in excess of what the governmental agency had offered prior to trial. Eminent domain proceedings also are based on a “governmental public necessity” for the taking of one’s property. If such a public necessity cannot be established, the individual whose property is being appropriated can defend the taking of the property through a proceeding known as a necessity hearing. Dworken & Bernstein has also participated in numerous necessity hearings to determine whether or not the governmental authority has the actual right to take an individual’s property.

Eminent Domain Attorneys

Keith R. Kraus
Jodi Littman Tomaszewski
Melvyn E. Resnick
Joshua J. Strickland
Erik L. Walter
Grant J. Keating
Richard N. Selby II
Steven Roth

Oil and Gas Law and Litigation now affects business, industry and individuals in every community. America’s campaign to reduce the need for foreign energy has opened a window of opportunity for developers, producers, pipeline aggregators, and everyday landowners whose property is now a gateway to major underground resources. At the same time, environmental limits, exposure to liability, and highly complicated federal, state and local regulation have made this subject a risky area for large and small participants.

Dworken & Bernstein has a number of highly experienced attorneys experienced to assist you with all of your oil and gas needs. Our attorneys have national experience in oil and gas law, energy litigation, zoning, and real estate law and litigation in the areas needed to give you comprehensive advice and protection for your oil and gas issues. We represent landowners, oil and gas companies, public utilities, environmental consultants, and other businesses and industries in the oil and gas industry throughout the United States.

We represent landowners and corporations in negotiating, drafting and litigating oil and gas leases. We offer the benefit of having worked for clients on both sides of these complex agreements. Based on this experience, our team of attorneys will assist you in evaluating your rights, considering your options, and ultimately in negotiating contracts and leases as well as in monitoring their overall performance.

Oil & Gas Law Attorneys

Jodi Littman Tomaszewski
Melvyn E. Resnick
Joshua J. Strickland
Erik L. Walter
Grant J. Keating
Richard N. Selby II
Steven Roth

Dworken & Bernstein’s environmental law practice offers broad Ohio, regional, and national experience to large corporations, small businesses, real estate developers, and local governments. We provide a full range of legal services relating to environmental issues, including representing clients in regulatory affairs, remediation procedures, permitting, compliance with federal and state law, commercial and corporate transactions, legislative initiatives, and litigation. Our attorneys have experience working with federal and Ohio regulatory and enforcement officials. We draw upon our many years of experience in counseling and representing our clients as they address environmental issues to develop innovative solutions to solve, correct and avoid environmental problems.

Environmental Law Attorneys

Jodi Littman Tomaszewski
Melvyn E. Resnick
Joshua J. Strickland
Erik L. Walter
Grant J. Keating
Richard N. Selby II
Steven Roth

Dworken & Bernstein represents individuals, developers, and associations in all aspects of condominium law including formation or amendment of the condominium declaration and by-laws, management and governance of the homeowner’s association, disputes between homeowners, associations, and developers, and sales and leasing of condominiums. We also represent clients in dealing with local governments and agencies in the formation and operation of condominium properties from taxation, zoning and land use, permitting, and eminent domain.

Condominium Law Attorneys

Keith R. Kraus
Jodi Littman Tomaszewski
Melvyn E. Resnick
Joshua J. Strickland
Erik L. Walter
Steven Roth