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Dennis Scardilli

Law Office of Dennis A. Scardilli, L.L.C.

22 years of experience
Arbitration & Mediation, Real Estate Law
New Jersey, Pennsylvania

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Biography

"All attorney listings are a paid attorney advertisement, and do not in any way constitute a referral or endorsement by an approved or authorized lawyer referral service". NJ Supreme Ct Advisory Committee on Atty Advertising Op 36, 12/26/2005.

During my four careers involving real estate, I have created solutions based on my hands-on experience as an attorney, MAI appraiser*, Professional Planner**, Realtor, and developer. I have served in positions involving real estate in municipal, county, state and federal government. Some highlights of my professional career include:

Saving millions in legal defense of property tax assessments for the City of Atlantic City, NJ, based on my knowledge & experience as an MAI real estate appraiser and professional planner;

Developing the legal framework & implementation strategy for Atlantic City's first-in-state property tax revaluation phase-in and first-in-state trust fund for the monetization of a municipal asset (est $800 M);

Obtaining land use approvals in environmentally sensitive areas for national wireless carrier's cell tower antenna co-locations by overcoming challenges of missing prior approvals and multiple layers of approval jurisdictions;

Challenging a foreclosure complaint under the Consent Judgment between NJ's Atty Gen and national lender resulting in ultimate withdrawal of foreclosure action;

Mediating Civil Court disputes involving property impairment, riparian rights, denial of zoning approval, bank loan fees, property insurance coverage;

Settling real estate tax appeals on hotels, marinas, office, warehouse, commercial, multifamily and high value beachfront residential properties as an attorney or as an appraiser*;

Creating a compliance review protocol for a national consulting firm for their review of FHA multifamily mortgage insurance by lenders including criteria for documentation, field testing and management review*;

Conducting HUD real estate collateral underwriting and environmental reviews on $300 M+ of multifamily housing grants & multifamily housing mortgage insurance restructuring/refinancing*;

Creating County Executive's alternative to State's proposal for the redevelopment of Atlantic City, accurately predicting the pattern of subsequent development**;

Coordinating a successful statewide application for 3,000 units of Sec 8 housing by NJ Housing Finance Agency**.

Practice Areas

Arbitration & Mediation: Business - Arbitration/Mediation, Consumer - Arbitration/Mediation, Family - Arbitration/Mediation

Real Estate Law: Commercial Real Estate, Condominiums, Easements, Eminent Domain, Homeowners Association, Land Use & Zoning, Mortgages, Neighbor Disputes, Residential Real Estate, Water Law

Additional Practice Areas

Foreclosure Defense
Mortgage Modifications
Real Estate Sales Agreements & Attorney Review Letters
Real Estate Tax Appeals

Fees

Free Consultation
15 Minute Telephone Consultation to determine if I can be of assistance in a legal problem.
Credit Cards Accepted
Visa, MC, Discover
Contingent Fees
On Tax Appeals
Rates, Retainers and Additional Information
Rate: $150 per Billable Hour. Retainer required in cash, check or credit card.

Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice

New Jersey
Since 2002

Pennsylvania
Since 2003

Professional Experience

Attorney: Law Office of Dennis A. Scardilli, L.L.C.; 2010 - Current; Foreclosure Defense including mortgage modification and mediation; Real Estate Tax Appeals; Real Estate Appraisal- related matters including Rebuttal Appraisals, Appraiser Liability and Disciplinary defense; Land Use; Real Property Litigation; Real Estate Agreements of Sale and Attorney Review Letters.

Per Diem Attorney: Dennis A. Scardilli, Eqs., MAI, PP, CTA; 2009 - 2010; Tax appeals, mortgage foreclosure and modification matters including litigation of foreclosure matter involving the Consent Judgment between Countrywide and the Office of the Attorney General for the State of New Jersey

Solo / Of Counsel to Other Firms: Dennis A. Scardilli, Esq; 2006 - 2009; Mediations; real estate transactions; Court Orders for Guardianships (in addition to contract work in same period)

Of Counsel / Contract Attorney: Law Office of Gary P. Levine, Esq., LLM; 2006 - 2009; Real estate tax appeals; land use; mortgage foreclosures/modifications

Special Counsel: Lemanowicz, LLP; 2008 - 2008; Land use approvals for telecommunication facilities

Special Counsel: Miller & Gallagher; 2006 - 2008; Atlantic City real property tax assessment defense; Asst Gen Counsel (Contract), Atlantic City Housing and Urban Redevelopment Authority

Part-time instructor, Real Estate Appraisal: Temple University Real Estate Institute; 2006 - 2007; Team taught course in Basic Real Estate Appraisal during the fall semesters.

Associate Attorney: Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer, P.A; 2005 - 2006; Redevelopment agreements, tax exemptions, due diligence. Also conduced legal reviews of real estate appraisals and developed an RFP for appraisal services for a public client

Consulting Senior Manager: The Reznick Group; 2005 - 2005; Created a workbook for compliance review of lender FHA multifamily mtg insurance processing, including documentation of results, criteria for field and partner review of the final work product.

Multifamily Appraiser: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Philadelphia, PA; 1999 - 2005; Real estate collateral underwriting on multifamily housing grants and restructuring/refinancing of multifamily housing mortgage insurance projects. Analysis of site, land use and environmental requirements. Negotiations with, project sponsors, outside counsel, state environmental agencies. Freedom of Information (FOIA) requests. Member, Policy Notice team for rent subsidy appraisal instrument; resolved supremacy doctrine issue thru negotiations with appraisal regulators.

Summer Law Clerk: U.S. District Court, Eastern District., Pennsylvania; 2000 - 2000; Drafted Report and Recommendations for Habeas Corpus and Social Security cases as Summer (Student) Law Clerk to U. S. Magistrate Judge Carol Sandra Moore Wells.

Chief Appraiser, Principal: Scardilli Appraisal Associates (and predecessor); 1985 - 1999; Conducted real estate valuations of complex properties, negotiated tax appeal settlements, advised municipal officials; testified before federal and state courts, county and municipal boards, land use boards. Managed practice and supervised up to 10 staff.

Appraiser / Consultant: Atlantic Coast Realty Appraisal Group (Integra); 1985 - 1988; Real estate appraisals including condemnation,rezoning. Report and expert testimony on effect of cell tower on property values before Zoning Board and Administrative Law Court.

Appraiser / Consultant: Laventhol & Horwath, Philadelphia, PA; 1984 - 1984; Real estate appraisals of hotels, historic preservation facade easements, multifamily housing

Director, Div of Economic Development: Atlantic County Government, Atlantic City, NJ; 1982 - 1984; Appointed County Government official and policy adviser to elected officials. Pub. economic indicators report. Coordinated alternative to state proposal for Atlantic City redevelopment.

Appraiser/Consultant: J.A. Scardilli Real Estate, Inc.; 1980 - 1982; Real estate appraisals and consulting studies. Land development approvals. Property management.

Housing Coordinator and Economic Development Planner: City of Atlantic City, NJ; 1978 - 1980; Affordable housing development policy and planning including: hearings; community presentations and negotiations; technical assistance. Staff to Governor’s Task Force on the Redevelopment of Atlantic City.

Housing Development Project Manager: New Jersey Housing Finance Agency; 1977 - 1978; Due diligence on closing files for HUD Section 8 subsidized, tax-exempt bond-financed housing projects in redevelopment areas, including Atlantic City. Coordinated successful state-wide application for 3,000 Sec. 8 units.

Staff Assistant (Temporary Appointee): U.SDepartment Of Housing And Urban Development, Washington, D.C; 1977 - 1977; Research, writing, interviewing candidates for Regional Administrator positions

Press Release Coordinator: 1977 Presidential InnauguralInaugural Committee, Washington, DC; 1976 - 1977; Coordinated press release distribution to all major DC and national media outlets

Advance and Congressional District Organizer: 1976 Presidential Campaign Committee and Jimmy Carter Campaign; 1975 - 1976; Advanced appearances by the candidate and his family. Accompanied family members on speaking tours. Organized rallies and literature distribution for, and with, local grass-root political organizations.

Real Estate Salesperson and Home Builder/Developer: J.A. Scardilli Real Estate, Inc.; 1971 - 1975; Real estate sales and management. Built modular and "stick-built" homes. Obtained approvals for vacant land.

Education

Widener University Delaware School of Law: J.D. | Real Estate Related; 1994 - 2000; High Grades: Professional Responsibility; Mediation; ADR; Negotiation; Directed Research on Appraisal Regulations; Environmental Law; Constitutional Law; Business Organizations; Honors: Law Review: Delaware Journal of Corporate Law Academic: Dean's Honors List, fall 1997. Recognition: Whos Who in American Law Schools, 2000; Activities: Christian Legal Society

New York University: Masters | Urban Planning; 1978 - 1982; Honors: Academic Achievement: 3.89 GPA

Wheaton College: B.A. | Speech (Communications); 1967 - 1971; Honors: Academic Achievement: Dean’s List, Spring 1969

Awards

MAI (Member of the Appraisal Institute): Appraisal Institute; 1991; While I no longer practice as a real estate appraiser, I maintain my membership in the Appraisal Institute because of this proprietary professional designation is highly respected. To earn this credential, I passed course work of over approximately 200 hours, developed a successful demonstration appraisal, which was peer reviewed, and passed a day-long comprehensive examination. In addition, my appraisal files, during my candidacy, were reviewed by senior MAIs for professional standard and technical compliance.

SCGREA (State Certified General Real Estate Appraiser License): New Jersey State Board of Real Estate Appraisers; 1991; Although I no longer practice as a real estate appraiser, I maintain this license because the continuing education required keeps me in touch with the issues, and people, in this profession.

CTA (Certified Tax Assessor): New Jersey Department of Treasury, Division of Local Taxation; 1986; This is a professional certification from the NJ Division of Taxation. It is typically held by active tax assessors in the State of NJ, a position I never held, but is also open to the public. I obtained this certification during the time I was performing appraisals in tax appeal cases on contract to the City of Atlantic City.

P.P. (NJ Professional Planner): New Jersey State Board of Professional Planners.; 1984; This is a state license to perform services as a professional planner granted by the State Board. While I no longer practice as a professional planner, I maintain this credential to demonstrate my knowledge of the planning process in New Jersey. To obtain this license, I was required to obtain my Masters Degree in Urban Planning (see the Education section of my profile), successfully complete two years of professional practice as a planner and pass a comprehensive exam.

Professional Associations