
John J. Mehler
PartnerDownload VCard
Phone: (814) 870-7757
Fax: (814) 454-4647
100 State St #700
Erie, Pennsylvania 16507
For 30 years, "Jack" Mehler has helped public and private companies, banks, developers, non-profit corporations and individuals in a wide range of legal matters. Jack concentrates in the areas of general business matters, real estate, banking, and financial transactions.
Jack also represents taxpayer-clients and developers in real estate tax assessment (value) appeals, and tax exemption cases throughout western Pennsylvania on many different types of properties as diverse as marinas, waterfront shipping facilities, hospitals, shopping centers and malls, industrial plants, truck terminals and warehouses, commercial and professional office buildings, corporate headquarters, hotels, and senior living facilities.
Jack has written numerous articles and is a frequent speaker before peer groups on business, real estate, appraisal practice and property tax litigation.
Clients include: Erie Insurance Exchange, General Electric, HANDS (Housing and Neighborhood Development Service), Plastek Industries, Inc., and Wegmans Food Markets.
Representative Matters
Northwest Pennsylvania Hospital. Jack was the lead lawyer on a challenge to a hospital's tax exemption. Jack's team successfully defended and ultimately defeated the challenge to the real estate tax exemption for the large, rural, historically tax-exempt Hospital. At the outset, the county and its assessment office revoked the real estate tax exemption for the health center and increased the nominal assessment to nearly $39 million. Consequently, the Hospital faced paying in excess of $1.7 million in real estate taxes annually. Jack led the interdisciplinary team of real estate, healthcare, and tax lawyers in handling the case. As a result of these efforts, the Hospital remains exempt, and the assessed value was returned to its former, nominal assessment. The Hospital's case became a template used by other local, traditionally nonprofit entities in preserving their exempt status as well.
International Loan Transaction. Jack Mehler is counsel to a multi-national corporation which re-financed a $100 million credit facility extended by a syndication of banks. Subsidiaries involved in the loan transaction are located in Europe, Latin America, and South America. Jack oversaw and coordinated the efforts of counsel to the various subsidiaries, and handled the negotiation, execution and delivery of the loan documents, and the assembly and delivery of the company's constituent and collateral documents, to the lead bank.
Real Estate Assessment Appeal - Outside Entertainment Venue. Jack successfully handled a real estate tax assessment (value) appeal case involving an outside entertainment venue. As part of the overall resolution of the case, the assessor reduced the assessment on the motor sports complex from approximately $5.3 million to $1.75 million. In addition to the 60% reduction in the assessment, Jack secured tax (cash) refunds for the property owner well in excess of $200,000.
J.D., University of Dayton School of Law - Dayton, Ohio
Cum Laude
B.S. Business Administration/Economics, Gannon University - Erie, Pennsylvania
New York
U.S. Federal District Court for the Western District of PA
Pennsylvania Bar Association
Erie County Bar Association
New York State Bar Association
Real Estate & Business Practice Committees, Erie County Bar Association
Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee, Erie County Bar Association
Appraisal Institute
Institute for Professions in Taxation
National Association of Bond Lawyers
Nationally recognized bond counsel, listed in the "Red Book"
Builders Association of NW PA, Solicitor (1987-Present)
Erie County Law Foundation, Trustee
Early Connections, former Board Member
Gannon University College of Engineering and Business, Advisory Board
Gifts for Kids, former Board Member
Affordable Housing Foundation, former Board Member
Benetwood Apartments, former Board Member
Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers, Volunteer
Erie County Office of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, former Advisory Board Member and Secretary
Holy Cross R. C. Church, Parish Council, Chair
Supportive Living Services, Board Member