Municipal Litigation & Counseling
Hurwitz Fine P.C. provides comprehensive legal services to municipalities across Western New York, combining decades of experience in both transactional matters and complex litigation. Several of our attorneys have served as village or town attorneys, giving us valuable, practical insight into the day-to-day legal and operational challenges municipalities face.
Our team represents towns, cities, school districts, and municipal officials in a wide range of matters, offering strategic guidance designed to resolve issues efficiently—whether through proactive counseling or vigorous litigation defense.
A distinguishing strength of our practice is our experience representing both municipalities and taxpayers in tax assessment matters. This dual perspective allows us to anticipate opposing arguments, develop effective litigation strategies, and achieve practical, cost-conscious resolutions.
We regularly serve as counsel in defending assessment rolls and protecting the integrity of municipal tax bases, with a focus on securing fair, defensible valuations while minimizing fiscal exposure.
Our municipal services include:
-
Defense of Article 7 tax certiorari proceedings from inception through trial
-
Development of valuation strategies in coordination with assessors and appraisers
-
Drafting and enforcement of discovery demands, including income and expense verification
-
Negotiation of settlements aligned with municipal budget considerations
-
Litigation of exemption and PILOT-related issues, including matters involving RPTL § 420-a
-
Advising on assessment practices, compliance, and risk management
We understand the financial and political pressures facing municipal clients and tailor our approach to deliver practical, efficient, and results-driven solutions.
Municipal Litigation & Counseling
The firm has a strong focus in municipal law and governance, transactional matters, environmental law, litigation defense and employment law. We are experienced in representing municipal officials, officers/directors and employees in the complete range of matters that would require legal counseling or defense. That experience allows Hurwitz Fine P.C. to provide effective legal representation in litigated matters and to identify and resolve matters without litigation.
Land Use, Zoning & Environmental Compliance
The Municipal Land Use attorneys regularly handle the full range of land use issues including zoning, planning, SEQR compliance, CERCLA cost recovery, Wetlands regulation, regulatory enforcement, Article 78 Proceedings, and litigation involving due process rights and inverse condemnation. The firm represents land developers in all phases of project development including site selection, local and state regulatory matters and environmental concerns.
Eminent Domain
Our eminent domain attorneys represent governmental entities and public utilities in the acquisition of property necessary to fulfill their governmental function.
Governmental Tort Liability & Negligence
The firm has defended numerous municipalities throughout Western New York including seven counties, nearly fifty cities, towns and villages and sixty school districts. The firm’s municipal defense work runs the gamut of subjects including premises liability matters such as trip and fall cases, recreational liability involving schools, parks and playgrounds, security claims, motor vehicle accidents including claims of defects in roads and highways. We regularly represent municipal and town officials, police officers and sheriffs in the full range of claims.
Civil Rights
Our attorneys have significant experience handling civil rights claims and related investigations, including:
-
Employment discrimination and harassment claims
-
Police excessive force allegations
-
EEOC and New York State Division of Human Rights matters
We provide thorough, strategic representation designed to protect our clients’ interests while navigating highly sensitive and complex issues.
