News Articles

Connecticut Law Tribune Seeks Analysis from Land Use Lawyer

7.06.12
The Connecticut Law Tribune quoted Dwight H. Merriam of the LandLaw Section in two articles.

In the story “Reduced Risk Could Lead To Cleaner Neighborhoods,” published June 29, 2012, the Connecticut Law Tribune reported that under a new state law zoning enforcement officers are no longer subject to triple damages if sued for issuing citations. Previously, towns had to go to court to ask a judge to levy fines against a property owner. "The judges are most interested in resolving the controversies and not issuing substantial penalties," Merriam said. “They believe the court system is better served by the opportunity to resolve these at the administrative levels."

In the story “Pot(ential) Business,” published May 21, 2012, Mr. Merriam commented on how Connecticut’s new medical marijuana law will prompt legal services for many situations, such as zoning laws and leases for growing marijuana and insurance cases regarding theft. “Anybody in the real estate business is going to have to do some due diligence about what their obligations are when leasing property” to producers and distributors, Mr. Merriam said. “I wouldn’t consider doing anything without consulting with a lawyer. Especially about what is the potential you’re going to be the object of prosecution by the U.S. Department of Justice and how you can protect yourself from that.”