More than 36 owners of prominent commercial properties in Broward County have filed lawsuits against Property Appraiser Marty Kiar, claiming his office incorrectly calculated the market and assessed values for their assets. The legal actions, which began in November and continued into December, target well-known hotels, office buildings, and retail centers across cities such as Fort Lauderdale, Hallandale Beach, Hollywood, and Pompano Beach.
The property owners argue that the appraiser’s valuation methods led to higher property tax bills by overstating real market values. These cases cover a range of sectors including hospitality, gaming, high-end offices, and large retail complexes.
Mila Schwartzreich, general counsel for the Broward property appraiser’s office, explained that many of these lawsuits were filed during a specific period tied to the certification of the county’s tax roll. “Property owners have 60 days from the date the value adjustment board certifies the tax rolls to file lawsuits. They are prohibited from doing so once the 60-day deadline expires,” Schwartzreich said. She added that each county certifies its tax roll on a different schedule: “Litigation waves often track those calendars rather than broader market shifts.” Schwartzreich also noted that while Broward processes more parcels than some entire states, relatively few assessments result in court challenges compared to other Florida counties like Miami-Dade.
Most plaintiffs are represented by Samuel Brandan Lynch from Orlando-based law firm Lowndes. Lynch declined to comment on the ongoing litigation.
One high-profile case involves Trinity Investments and Credit Suisse—owners of the Diplomat Beach Resort Hollywood at 3555 Ocean Drive. According to court records, Kiar’s office valued this oceanfront hotel at $589.9 million for 2024; its owners paid about $12.3 million in property taxes. In 2023, Trinity and Credit Suisse acquired this resort along with two adjacent parcels for roughly $850 million before selling part of it to BH Group and Related Group.
Other major commercial property owners are also listed among those challenging their recent assessments in court.
