Inside

The Real Estate Issue 2024

Looking back at a seminal case that changed everything

This month’s edition of the Contra Costa Lawyer is about Real Estate. As those of you that advise clients who buy, sell, lease, inherit, develop or otherwise deal with real property know, it’s a road full of legal twists and turns. That legal landscape, especially in connection with commissions, disclosures and other aspects of real estate sales, has recently undergone some important changes which we will explore in this edition. We want to express our appreciation to the authors who have taken their time and efforts to bring you up to date on these headline topics. Thank you one and all.

Sometimes, it’s useful to look back at where we started. This edition begins with a retrospective piece on Easton v. Strausberger, a seminal case regarding disclosures upon transfer of residential real estate which turns 40 years old this year. It continues to be a guidepost for California lawyers, judges, lawmakers and industry professionals on the interpretation of the duty to disclose, which in turn led to the creation of the ubiquitous Transfer Disclosure Statement in residential sales. Turn to page 6 for the article.

Ann Battin and Marie Quashnock

Ann Harding Battin is an experienced attorney whose clientele includes individuals and small businesses on a broad spectrum of representation, including both litigation and transactional matters. She is the principal of BATTIN LAW FIRM, located in Richmond.

The Battin Law Firm in the convenient Hilltop area Richmond includes business and real estate transactions and civil litigation; estate formation and probate matters; representation of creditors for asset protection; and, as somewhat of a surprise, personal injury representation.

After over 30 years in private practice, Marie Quashnock has developed extensive experience representing individuals, startups, businesses, and public entities across a multitude of industries. In her transactional experience, Marie has advised real estate clients on a wide range of transactions, including sales contracts, lease arrangements, and debt and equity financing. Marie has also developed a specialty in intellectual property law, having prosecuted hundreds of trademark registrations with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on behalf of her clients. Marie also possesses a broad civil litigation experience in a variety of areas, focusing primarily on real estate and business litigation. Marie was named a Super Lawyer by Northern California Super Lawyer Magazine for two consecutive years, 2009 and 2010. In 2017, she was the president of the Real Estate Section for the Contra Costa County Bar Association. Marie has been a partner at Alvis Quashnock and Associates in Brentwood since March 2013.