Caveat Litigator: Avoiding Landmines in California Real Estate Disputes

Even seasoned litigators can find themselves on shaky ground when a case involves California real estate. Drawing on real-world mediation experiences and case law, this course will demystify zoning and land use rules, highlight the hidden risks associated with relying too heavily on title reports, and provide practical strategies for approaching partition disputes. You’ll also gain clarity on California’s expansive disclosure obligations and how they can tip the scales in mediation when properly understood—or completely blow up a case when they’re not.

Whether you’ve taken a handful of property cases or are suddenly faced with one involving an inherited duplex, hillside drainage issues, or a CEQA-triggered land use mess, this program will help you spot and avoid the most common—and costly—pitfalls. By the end of this session, you’ll leave with a better sense of when to dig deeper, when to call in subject-matter experts, and how to guide your client toward resolution without getting derailed by outdated assumptions or faulty litigation strategies.