McLaughlin & Stern, LLP Secures Win Against Nassau County For Excessive Block Fee
New York, NY – McLaughlin & Stern, LLP, one of the top law firms in New York, recently secured a landmark summary judgment determination declaring the so-called “Block Fee” imposed by Nassau County for the recording and indexing of real property documents to be excessive and unlawful.
The case was brought by Nassau County resident, John Madson, who had been charged the Block Fee when he filed a Satisfaction of Mortgage with the Nassau County Clerk. Plaintiff alleged, on behalf of himself and a proposed class of Nassau County residents, that the Block Fee is “excessive, inappropriate and served as an unconditional tax.” Plaintiff further sought an order declaring that the County must reimburse each person who paid the fee from January 1, 2017 forward.
According to the ruling, effective as of June 10, 2025, the Block Fee will remain $300, but every person who pays the fee thereafter shall be entitled to a refund of the difference between the $300 and what the fee eventually ends up being.
“We are thrilled with the outcome of this case,” said Jason Giaimo, one of the Partners at McLaughlin & Stern. “It is a victory for residents who have been unfairly burdened by this unnecessary fee for far too long. We will continue to fight to ensure residents receive a refund for the unlawful fees they have paid and will monitor any efforts by the County to continue charging this fee without following the legally required due diligence and review process.”
The case is led by Partners Jason Giaimo and Lee Shalov. McLaughlin & Stern has a long history of representing clients in complex litigation matters, and this case is just the latest example of their efforts to defend the rights of residents and businesses in New York State and around the world.
For more information about McLaughlin & Stern and their legal services, please visit their website at www.mclaughlinstern.com.
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Josh Vlasto
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