ADR for Pennsylvania Real Estate Tax Assessment Appeals

Michael Agresti
Aug 16
2 min read

Updated: 7 hours ago

A Practical, Faster Path to Resolution for All Sides

Anyone who practices real estate tax assessment appeals in Pennsylvania knows the story: cases that sit in the Court of Common Pleas with no movement, frustrated clients, and little incentive for anyone to push them forward.

Assessment appeals are important—but they can easily become cases that stall, languish, and slowly drain everyone’s time and resources.

A Perspective From Both Sides

Attorney Michael Agresti has spent more than 25 years litigating Pennsylvania tax assessment appeals, representing:

individual homeowners
commercial and investment property owners
real estate portfolio companies
school districts

He has taken appeals all the way to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.

Because Attorney Agresti has represented both sides—public and private—he understands what motivates each party, what they need to resolve the case, and the pressure points that facilitate settlement.

When Appeals Languish

For a variety of reasons, real estate assessment appeals seem to always languish after the appeal moves to the Court of Common Pleas. Property owners are concerned about litigation costs. Discovery drags on. Court dockets are overloaded. Trials are regularly continued or postponed.

Meanwhile—everyone waits:

school districts budgeting revenue
property owners managing expenses
investors forecasting cash flow

All while the property continues being taxed at the disputed value, with potential refunds or underpayments accumulating.

“ADR replaces stagnation with momentum.”

Why ADR Makes Sense in Assessment Appeals

Mediation gives parties a structured opportunity to compare valuation positions, share appraisal evidence, and negotiate a resolution with someone who understands both sides of the dispute.

ADR brings:

speed
predictability
cost control
confidentiality
professional neutrality
finality (when arbitration is used)

For complex valuation disputes, a neutral who understands real estate, assessment methodology, and Pennsylvania tax law brings meaningful clarity.

When to Consider Mediation or Arbitration

Early Mediation Resolve before expert costs spiral and before the parties become entrenched.

Post-Appraisal Mediation Once the expert reports are in, negotiations become real and productive.

Binding Arbitration Allows both sides to present their case and obtain a final outcome faster and privately.

Med-Arb Hybrid Start with mediation, and if unresolved, proceed immediately to a binding decision (with agreed parameters).

“ADR gives parties a path to closure without waiting on court calendars.

If you’re representing a taxpayer, a commercial owner, or a school district, and your appeals are sitting stagnant in the Court of Common Pleas—Mediation or Binding Arbitration may be the quickest and most efficient way forward.