Offering highly experienced legal counsel and representation in local government/municipal law, zoning and land use law, commercial/civil litigation, and real estate closings and transactions.
SERVING THE
LOWER HUDSON VALLEY
General Civil Practice of Law
Mr. Michaels offers a general practice of law in New York, with an emphasis on matters of civil law, and a depth of experience in a wide variety of areas of litigation, zoning/land use/planning, municipal law and real estate transactions (click on “Practice Areas” for further details). Legal issues are approached with meticulous research of all applicable law, and a thorough analysis of a client’s position in relation to that law.
Dependent upon the type of attorney representation sought by the client, Mr. Michaels’ legal fee arrangement may be a contingent fee percentage of the monetary recovery obtained for the client (e.g., collections), a flat fee (e.g., real estate closings), an hourly charge (e.g., zoning/land use/planning, and litigation defense) or a “hybrid” fee (a reduced hourly rate plus a reduced contingent fee percentage).
Whether your need for a lawyer is to pursue collection of an outstanding debt, initiate or defend a civil action, negotiate a legal dispute, buy or sell a home or building (or business), or obtain legal counsel and representation before (or on behalf of) a land use or municipal board, Mr. Michaels will treat your legal matter with utmost diligence and exacting attention. Mr. Michaels utilizes various internet law libraries, asset search and informational web databases in the zealous pursuit of his clients’ goals and interests, and leaves “no stone unturned.”
Although assertive while pursuing his clients’ best interests, Mr. Michaels always maintains high ethical standards and professional courtesy (to all parties) throughout his representation; and employs a practical, rather than aggressive, approach in his advocacy.
Practice Areas
Civil and Commercial Litigation, including:
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Debt collections (commercial and consumer/retail).
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Construction, and business, disputes.
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Mechanics’ Liens.
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Property/real estate litigation.
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Lawsuits against municipalities.
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Civil/human rights violations.
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Landlord/tenant eviction proceedings (residential and commercial).
Municipal law, including:
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Counseling and advising municipal elected officials, public officers, government appointees, and local government legislative and land use boards, including areas of NYS Town Law, NYS Village Law, NYS General Municipal Law, NYS Municipal Home Rule Law, State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA), NYS Civil Service Law, NYS Freedom of Information Law (FOIL), NYS Open Meetings Law, NYS Public Officers Law, and Local Laws.
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Drafting Local Laws and resolutions for municipal boards.
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Defending municipalities against civil actions and CPLR Article 78 proceedings.
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Drafting Requests for Proposals (RFPs), and drafting and reviewing municipal contracts.
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Prosecuting violations of Local Law, NYS Vehicle & Traffic Law, and NYS Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code.
Zoning, Land Use and Planning, including:
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Representation of, and advising, land use applicants seeking –
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Variances from municipal Zoning Boards of Appeals.
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Site Development Plan or Subdivision Plat approvals from municipal Planning Boards.
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Special Permit Use and other land use approvals before various municipal boards.
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Counseling developers, real estate investors and builders relating to zoning compatibility.
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Providing of legal counsel to municipal land use boards.
Real Estate, including:
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Closings of single-family and multi-family residential dwellings.
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Sale or purchase of commercial, multi-unit and/or mixed-use buildings and investment properties.
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Drafting and negotiating of commercial and residential leases.
Background
Graduate of St. John’s University School of Law, Jamaica, New York.
Admitted and licensed to practice law in the State of New York, including all State Courts, and the United States District Court of the Southern District of New York, and the United States District Court of the Northern District of New York.
Mr. Michaels also holds, or has held, the positions of Village Attorney for the Village of Nyack, NY; Deputy Town Attorney for the Town of Orangetown, NY; Village Attorney for the Village of New Hempstead, NY; Assistant Village Attorney for the Village of Haverstraw, NY; Assistant Village Attorney for the Village of Spring Valley, NY; and Assistant Village Attorney for the Village of Piermont, NY.
Contact
Dennis D. Michaels, Esq.
ADDRESS
Dennis D. Michaels
Attorney At Law
3 Main Street, Suite 1
Nyack, New York 10960
Tel: (845) 348-0001
Fax: (845) 675-3131*
*(not for service of legal papers)