Kingery Constr. Co. v. 6135 O St. Car Wash, LLC, 312 Neb. 502 (2022). Construction contracts routinely contain arbitration provisions. Under the Federal Arbitration Act (the “Act”), those provisions can displace the parties’ rights to sue. 9 U.S.C. § 2. Section 3 of the Act requires courts to stay any […]
Dirt Alert
Nebraska Supreme Court: Board of Equalization Does Not Have Authority to Waive a Statutory Filing Deadline
Mid America Agricultural Products v. Perkins County Board Of Equalization, 312 Neb. 341 (2022). Nebraska law requires any person challenging a property’s assessment to file a protest with the county Board of Equalization on or before June 30. Neb. Rev. Stats. § 77-1502(1).[1] The Nebraska Administrative Code provides that if the […]
Congress Approves $369 Billion in Climate Spending, Commits to Expedite Environmental Permitting
On August 16, 2022, President Joe Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (“Act”) into law. The Act makes major changes to prescription-drug pricing, corporate taxes and climate change. (For the Act’s implications to corporate tax, see our Inflation Reduction Act – Key Tax Provisions article.) Most new spending […]
Nebraska Supreme Court: Extension of Natural-Gas Main is in “Public Interest” Despite Prior Agreement
In re App. No. P-12.32 of Black Hills Neb. Gas, 311 Neb. 813 (2022). The Nebraska Public Service Commission (“PSC”) has broad authority to regulate natural-gas providers in Nebraska. Under Nebraska Revised Statutes section 66‑1863, a provider must obtain PSC approval before expanding or enlarging its service area.[1] The standard […]
Nebraska Supreme Court: Possible Loan Release Makes Summary Judgment Premature for Partition Action
Humphrey v. Smith, 311 Neb. 632 (2022). A partition action asks a court to split a property between multiple owners. Here, two people bought a house together. One loaned the other $25,000 of the $35,000 purchase price. The lender, in turn, promised to release his name from the deed once […]