Answer - Divine Mercy.pdf
Divine Mercy Property LLC Petitioner Vs. City Of Eastpointe Respondent · 26-001354-TT
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STATE OF MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF LICENSING & REGULATORY AFFAIRS MICHIGAN TAX TRIBUNAL Divine Mercy Property LLC, Petitioner, v City of Eastpointe, Respondent. MTT Docket No. 26-001354 _____________________________________________________________________________/ JAY A. SCHWARTZ PROPERTY TAX REDUCTION SERVICES, LLC Representative for Petitioner 37887 West 12 Mile Road, Suite B Farmington Hills, MI 48331 (248) 672-1922 LAURA M. HALLAHAN (P42101) SETH A. O’LOUGHLIN (P80257) KELSEA M MELCHER (P85821) HALLAHAN & ASSOCIATES, P.C. Attorneys for Respondent 1750 S. Telegraph Road, Suite 202 Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302 (248) 731-3089 _____________________________________________________________________________/ ANSWER TO PETITION AND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSES ANSWER Respondent, City of Eastpointe, by and through its attorneys, Hallahan & Associates, P.C., responds to the allegations made in Petitioner’s Petition as follows: 1. Respondent admits the allegations in Paragraph 1. 2. Respondent admits the allegations in Paragraph 2. 3. Respondent admits the allegations in Paragraph 3. 4. Respondent neither admits nor denies the allegations in Paragraph 4 for the reason that none are made. 5. Respondent neither admits nor denies the allegations in Paragraph 5 for the reason that none are made.
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Entire Tribunal Property Tax Answer Page 2 of 5 6. Respondent admits the allegations in Paragraph 6. 7. Respondent neither admits nor denies the allegations in Paragraph 7 for the reason that none are made. 8. Respondent neither admits nor denies the allegations in Paragraph 8 for the reason that none are made. 9. Respondent neither admits nor denies the allegations in Paragraph 9 for the reason that none are made. 10. Respondent admits the allegations in Paragraph 10. 11. Respondent denies the allegations in Paragraph 11 for the reason that they are untrue. 12. Respondent lacks the information and knowledge necessary to respond to the truth of the allegations set forth in Paragraph 12 and, therefore, leaves Petitioner to its proofs. 13. Respondent acknowledges Petitioner’s beliefs as to the issues in this appeal but denies that those issues have merit and further denies that Petitioner is entitled to any relief. 14. Respondent acknowledges Petitioner’s belief as to an issue with the 2026 tax year but denies any issue with said tax year. 15. Respondent neither admits nor denies the allegations in Paragraph 15 for the reason that none are made. 16. The values for the property identified above as established by Respondent’s Board of Review are: Parcel No. True Cash Value Assessed Value Taxable Value 02-14-32-330-035 $629,200 $314,600 $314,600 02-14-32-330-038 $621,800 $310,900 $310,770 17. Respondent contends that the values for the property identified above are: Parcel No. True Cash Value State Equalized Value Taxable Value 02-14-32-330-035 $629,200 $314,600 $314,600 02-14-32-330-038 $621,800 $310,900 $310,770 18. The values in dispute for the property identified above are: Parcel No. True Cash Value State Equalized Value Taxable Value
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Entire Tribunal Property Tax Answer Page 3 of 5 02-14-32-330-035 $0 $0 $0 02-14-32-330-038 $0 $0 $0 19. Respondent denies Petitioner is entitled to the relief requested in Paragraph 19 for the reasons set forth above. Furthermore, the assessed, state equalized and/or taxable values do not exceed permitted amounts, do not exceed the percentage for true cash value permitted by law, were correctly determined and are based upon correct application of proper principles, and the values and Respondent’s mode of assessment are non-discriminatory and constitutional. 20. Respondent denies the allegations in Paragraph 20 for the reason that the same are untrue. Furthermore, the assessed, state equalized and/or taxable values do not exceed permitted amounts, do not exceed the percentage for true cash value permitted by law, were correctly determined and are based upon correct application of proper principles, and the values and Respondent’s mode of assessment are non-discriminatory and constitutional. WHEREFORE, Respondent, City of Eastpointe, requests the Tribunal dismiss the Petition, affirm Respondent’s assessed and taxable values, subject to county and state equalization, and award Respondent its costs and attorney fees. HALLAHAN & ASSOCIATES, P.C. /s/ Laura M. Hallahan______________ LAURA M. HALLAHAN (P42101) SETH A. O’LOUGHLIN (P80257) KELSEA M. MELCHER (P85821) Attorneys for Respondent 1750 S. Telegraph Road, Suite 202 Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302 Dated: October 3, 2026 (248) 731-3089 AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSES Respondent, City of Eastpointe, asserts the following affirmative defenses: 1. Petitioner fails to allege specific and sufficient facts to set forth a cause of action against Respondent and to support its claim for relief.
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Entire Tribunal Property Tax Answer Page 4 of 5 2. The Tribunal is charged with finding a property’s true cash value to determine the property’s lawful assessment. Alhi Development Co v Orion Twp, 110 Mich App 764, 767 (1981). 3. Petitioner has the burden of establishing the property’s true cash value. See MCL 205.737(3) and Kern v Pontiac Twp, 93 Mich App 612 (1974). 4. Petitioner has failed to allege specific and sufficient facts to establish fraud, error of law, discrimination, application of wrong principles, or illegality on the part of Respondent or its agents. 5. Petitioner has failed to allege that the mode and method of assessing the subject property fails to conform to the mode and method applied in the case of all other properties in Respondent’s taxing unit for the year in question. 6. Petitioner has failed to show that any factor other than fifty percent (50%) was applied to the true cash value of Petitioner’s property, as well as all others, to arrive at the respective assessments appearing on the roll, and also fails to allege specific and sufficient facts to support its allegations that the property’s taxable value is improper. 7. Petitioner asks the Tribunal to grant it preference by application of a self-chosen method of assessment contrary to the intent, purpose and law of this State. 8. Petitioner, in essence, asks the Tribunal to grant it an illegal preference by application of a method of assessment different from that employed in the assessment of other properties in Respondent’s taxing unit. 9. Petitioner, in essence, seeks by petition to challenge the process of county and state equalization as to which it has no legal standing and cannot maintain a cause of action.
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Entire Tribunal Property Tax Answer Page 5 of 5 10. Any decrease in the value of Petitioner’s property was a result of its own intentional acts and/or negligence and cannot be allowed to reduce Petitioner’s otherwise equitable tax burden. 11. Respondent has properly and lawfully assessed Petitioner’s property and established its taxable value in accordance with statutory and constitutional requirements. 12. Petitioner has failed to pursue its appeal in a timely fashion. 13. Respondent reserves the right to raise additional affirmative defenses as the same may become known to it during the course of these proceedings. HALLAHAN & ASSOCIATES, P.C. /s/ Laura M. Hallahan____________ LAURA M. HALLAHAN (P42101) SETH A. O’LOUGHLIN (P80257) KELSEA M. MELCHER (P85821) Attorneys for Respondent 1750 S. Telegraph Road, Suite 202 Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302 Date: October 3, 2026 (248) 731-3089 PROOF OF MAILING On the date below I sent by electronic mail a copy of the foregoing Respondent’s Answer to Petition and Affirmative Defenses to: Jay A. Schwartz jayschwartz@propertytaxreductionservices.org I declare that the statement above is true to the best of my information, knowledge and belief. /s/ Laura M. Hallahan____________ Dated: October 3, 2026 Laura M. Hallahan