Published: Alternative Dispute Resolution Options for Commercial Disputes

I published " Alternative Dispute Resolution Options for Commercial Disputes" on Wordpress

Published: A Look at Construction Contracts

I published " A Look at Construction Contracts" on Wordpress

A Look at Reading Comprehension

 Reading comprehension is one of eight reading skills. The others are decoding, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, sentence construction and cohesion, reasoning and background knowledge, and working memory and attention. Reading comprehension is the ability to read a text, process its information, and understand its intended meaning.

Comprehending a piece of text is not just about remembering the exact words and phrases. It is about forming meaning and making sense of the text by creating mental models of what the words and phrases describe. It is likened to playing a film in one’s mind.

Comprehension is important if reading is to have a purpose. It determines how engaged the reader will be with the text, if they will learn, and whether they will enjoy the experience.

Effective comprehension involves five areas. They are making meaning of the text, drawing connections, fluency, vocabulary, and summarizing.

To begin, understanding a text’s meaning involves deciphering what the text is telling the reader. The reader determines the text’s key message by identifying actions, ideas, lessons, and themes that are more important than the rest. In some cases, the reader must infer meaning and understand the text using their background knowledge. This helps them interpret meaning, make predictions, and draw conclusions.

A reader can enhance their comprehension by reading actively, asking questions, taking notes, and looking up the meaning of unfamiliar words. Additionally, background information, titles, and subtitles can assist in comprehending meaning.

Drawing connections involves establishing relationships between two or more elements to enhance one’s understanding of different concepts. A common way to draw connections is by relating the text to one’s experiences and happenings in the real world. A reader can draw on their experience and see whether it helps them make sense of the text.

Fluency is a measure of how quickly a reader can consume text and whether they have made any errors. One becomes fluent when they achieve a certain reading rate. This is often possible if the individual improves their attention and concentration when reading. A reader’s pace increases the more they read.

Some strategies a reader can use to increase their reading rate include reading without placing time limits and skimming. Skimming requires the reader to only identify the main ideas. They don’t necessarily need to read every word, since they only want to get the principal ideas. Another strategy is reading out loud or listening while others read aloud.

Developing one’s vocabulary is also vital. When a word’s meaning is not clear, the reader should look it up in the dictionary. A good reader should also list, define, and practice using new words.

It’s also helpful to use contextual analysis to make sense of new terms. Contextual analysis assists readers in anticipating and confirming the definitions of unfamiliar words or familiar words used in unconventional or unfamiliar ways. To accomplish this, readers examine the surrounding words, sentences, and paragraphs within a given text to identify contextual cues.

The best way to build vocabulary is exposure to new terms. A reader should challenge herself and be intentional in learning new words. They should also practice using these new terms. With time, they will find they are using the terms naturally when the need arises.

Summarizing allows one to retell a story in an article, book, essay, or other piece of text in a few sentences without referring to the original text. It involves identifying major and minor points in a text and establishing which ones are more important than the others.

Additionally, synthesizing is an important summarizing skill. It involves forming meaning by pulling a text’s different parts together. For example, one can develop a story’s central theme by examining the characters, conflicts, figurative language, and symbols.

Published: Key Remedies for Breach of Contract Disputes

I published " Key Remedies for Breach of Contract Disputes" on Wordpress

How Attorneys Can Help in Various Real Estate Disputes

 Real estate disputes that vary in nature and complexity arise from disagreements between parties. Lawsuits over these disputes are common. In New York City courts alone, attorneys file more than 10,000 lawsuits each year for real estate disputes.

Landlord-tenant disputes are common, particularly concerning lease agreements. Conflicting expectations and interpretations of lease terms and conditions can lead to these disputes. Lease issues often arise from maintenance responsibilities, housing discrimination, security deposits, or termination of tenancy for nonpayment, property destruction, or involvement in crime while renting.

Lawyers help resolve landlord-tenant disputes by reviewing leases and educating clients on their rights and responsibilities. In some cases, lawyers may guide clients through eviction or termination proceedings and represent them in court. These lawyers also address maintenance issues, such as landlord repair obligations and tenant damages.

Property ownership is another common cause of real estate disputes. These disputes may arise when a portion of the property is damaged or has hidden issues, such as environmental hazards or structural defects. Fraudulent property transfers or errors in recording deeds can also lead to property title issues, which may require legal action to resolve.

Real estate lawyers can protect clients from ownership disputes by conducting due diligence, examining documents, and performing title searches to ensure a clear title before acquiring a property. This investigation can identify discrepancies or liens on the property. For example, lawyers can find out if an inherited property is under the beneficiary's name on government records to let their client know they can proceed with the purchase. In co-ownership disputes, attorneys can draft and review ownership agreements that address management and decision-making, mitigating the risk of future conflicts.

Another real estate dispute is defining property boundaries. These disputes arise from disagreements or misperceptions about lot lines, overlapping yards, or encroachments where a structure extends onto a neighboring property. Unclear property descriptions and outdated surveys often cause these disputes.

Attorneys can help with boundary disputes by checking official records and conducting surveys to determine accurate property lines, which they can use as evidence to support their clients' claims. As spokespeople for their clients, attorneys can prevent contentious communication with neighbors and manage all correspondence and negotiations. If necessary, they represent clients in court. They also help prevent adverse possession by sending parties desist letters, filing lawsuits, or initiating negotiations.

Zoning and land use issues, often arising from disagreements between property owners and local governments, also lead to legal disputes. These disputes occur when property owners violate setback ordinances by building structures too close to property boundaries or failing to meet building code standards. Conflicts also occur when property owners use their land against zoning regulations, such as engaging in industrial activities in a residential zone. Real estate attorneys assess the case strength by reviewing laws and regulations and advise their clients to proceed with litigation or pursue alternative resolutions, such as rezoning or requesting exceptions or deviations from zoning regulations. Attorneys aim to attain the best possible outcome for their clients.

Disclaimer: This does not constitute legal advice. No attorney-client relationship created.