Tag Archive for: Florida

Hurricane Preparation

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  1.  Take Pictures and Video of Everything

For insurance claim purposes, having photo or video evidence of your house prior to a storm is extremely beneficial. Without it, an insurance company will claim that the condition your house is in now was not a result of the hurricane.

Record both the inside and outside (especially the roof) of the house if you can, and save the file(s) in the cloud or somewhere safe. Documenting what belongings are inside the house is also suggested. When everyone goes to file claims with their insurance carriers after the storm, the people who have documentation and videotapes go first, the people with questions go last.

  1.  Park Your Cars Strategically

Where to park your car in the event of an impending tropical storm or hurricane is a consideration that should not be taken lightly. If you’re in a place with risk for flooding, find a legal parking location in a parking garage, hill, or curb. If you have more important valuables to protect, such as an expensive window or generator, it might be wise to use your vehicle as a barricade to insulate what you are trying to protect from the storm.

  1.  Consider Purchasing a Flight

Some airline-booking services like Expedia offer a free cancellation on flight tickets within 24 hours of booking. Take advantage of this and allow yourself the opportunity to get to a safe place. If the storm changes course and you no longer need the flight, then cancel it.

  1. Identify a Shelter that Takes Pets

Don’t assume that you will be able to bring your pet to an emergency shelter, call your local office of emergency management to identify which shelter is your best option.  Do not leave your pets behind!!!!

  1. Check out http://www.floridahealth.gov/programs-and-services/emergency-preparedness-and-response/_documents/prepareguide-eng.pdf
  2. Buy water, batteries, canned goods, extra gas, fill up all cars.

 

Carol A. Lawson, Esq., 28870 U.S. Hwy 19 #300, Hodusa Towers, Clearwater, FL 33761

Phone: (727) 410-2705;   email: [email protected]

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Note Worthy Foreclosure Cases In Florida July 2015

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There are many recent changes to foreclosure case law that effect  consumers.    in an effort to keep you informed of what you may see in your foreclosure defense case, I have listed the very case synopses here.  Many  of these case synopsis were done by Judge Cynthia Cox in the 19th Circuit.  Judge Cox’s synopsis  could not be improved upon so I posted hers.  Pinellas , Pasco and Hillsborough counties are 2nd DCA and a link to the case is included.  Contact us for your Foreclosure Defense Needs.

For other districts : http://www.flcourts.org/florida-courts/district-court-appeal.stml

Schmidt v. Deutsche Bank,Case No. 5D14-1616 (5th DCA 7/31/15) Bank failed to prove standing, no evidence it  was holder  at time of filing. Assignment was dated 18  days after foreclosure suit  was filed.

Yefim v. Wachovia, Case No. 5D13-3468 (5th DCA 7/31/15) Defective default notice of 28 days (v. 30) not material breach and distinguishable from Samaroo.

Vasilevskiy v. Wachovia, Case No. 5D13-3468 (5th DCA 7/31/15) Purpose of notice provision is to allow borrower to cure the default. In this case, the defective letter (dated 28 days v. 30 days after written to cure) was not material or prejudicial because borrowers never attempt to cure in the following 4 years. The shortage of 2 days was insignificant – breach was not material. 

Martins v. PNC, Case No. 5D13-3604 (5th DCA 7/31/15) Error to enter SJ when there are material disputed issues of fact, affidavit is legally insufficient and/or good faith discovery still in progress.   However, if the non-moving party does not act diligently in completing discovery or uses discovery to thwart or delay, SJ is proper (when borrowers made no efforts for 7 months prior to SJ hearing). Titles do not shed light on trustworthiness or documents or competence of affiant to testify about matters or records therein.

Messina v. Deutsche, Case No. 5D14-1616 (5th DCA 7/31/15) When Bank files a lost note count and then later claims it had possession of the Note on the date of filing without any personal knowledge as to the date the Bank actually obtained possession and assignment dated after filing, the Bank lacks standing. 

James Perry v. CRSJ, Case No. 3D14-2510 (3d DCA 7/29/15) Lien terminated five years after its maturity date since extension must be recorded to extend time to file foreclosure action. 

Snyder v. JP Morgan, Case No. 4D13-4036 (4th DCA 7/29/15) Involuntary dismissal should have been granted when Bank failed to prove it had possession of note upon filing and lack standing to enforce the note.

DeSousa v. JP, Case 4D14-4638 (4th DCA 7/29/15) Generally, intervention is not allowed post-judgment and a purchaser can protect itself by checking the public records for liens and lis pendens. 

Greentree v. Milam, Case No. 2D14-660 (2d DCA 7/29/15)   Contractual condition precedent evaluated for substantial compliance or performance. When default letter (paragraph 22) is nearly equivalent or varies only in immaterial respects, letter substantially complies.

Wells v. Robinson, Case No. 5D14-2819 (5th DCA 7/24/15)   Bank failed to prove who lost the note or who had right to enforce note when it was  lost. Court properly dismissed for failure to reestablish lost note.   Dismissal does not preclude new action based on different dates of default.

Kenney v. HSBC, Case No. 4D13-4165 (4th DCA 7/22/15)  Unendorsed note attached to complaint. The assignment was later backdated and the note introduced at trial had a blank endorsement and there was no testimony as to the date the endorsement was placed on the Note.

Chappelle v. South Fla. Guard, Case No. 4D13-2613 (4th DCA 7/22/15) judge must consider the 6 Kozel factors and must make a finding that the conduct was equivalent to willfulness or deliberate disregard before entry of judicial default or sanctions.

St. Clair v. US Bank, Case No. 2D14-211 (2d DCA 7/17/15) Bank failed to demonstrate it had standing when it relied on possession of the note, a pooling servicing agreement, default notice letter and fee payment schedule as nonholder in possession with rights of holder.  Mere possession is inadequate and the Bank failed to provide evidence it had acquired the loan from Lenders Direct (PSA was with SLS).   ** case brief by Judge Cynthia Cox****

Central v. Amtrust, Case No. 5D14-1511 (5th DCA 7/17/15) without reservation in FJ  court lacks jurisdiction to alter, modify, or vacate judgment or rule on post-judgment condo  assessments §718.116.

Smith v. Reverse Mtg, Case No. 3D13-2261 (3d DCA 7/15/15) Condition precedent not met in reverse mortgage foreclosure upon death of husband, as wife was co-borrower under the mortgage, although she didn’t sign note.  ** case brief by Judge Cynthia Cox****

Peuguero v. Bank of America, Case No. 4D13-3210 (4th DCA 7/15/15) Testimony was sufficient to prove the endorsement was executed prior to filing and to admit payment history per Cayea.

Kelly v. BNY Mellon, Case 1D13-2778 (1st DCA 7/14/15)   Undated blank endorsement on Note insufficient to prove standing without evidence that it occurred prior to filing which was not provided at trial.

Blue Infiniti v. Wilson, Case Nos. 4D14-813, 14-887 (4th DCA 7/8/15)  voluntary dismissal does not make defendant prevailing party- must prevail on significant issues,  re in Padow … when Plaintiff obtained most of what it sought before it voluntarily dismissed defendant is not prevailing party.  A full evidentiary hearing is required for 57.105 good faith issue with detailed findings.

TD Bank v. Graubard, Case No. 5D14-1505 (5th DCA 7/2/15)   Claim for deficiency is continuation of the original foreclosure suit and reintroduction of final judgment of f/c is not necessary to establish right to deficiency in same case.

Wright v. JP Morgan, Case No. 4D14-545 (4th DCA 7/1/15)   No evidence note and mortgage transferred from Chase to JP Morgan Chase.   A parent and its subsidiary are separate and distinct legal entities.  Parent company cannot exercise rights of its subsidiary without proof of transfer or servicing agreement.   Notice of servicing transfer is not competent evidence when never authenticated and admitted. 

Carol A. Lawson, Esq., 28870 U.S. Hwy19 #300, Hodusa Towers, Clearwater, FL 33761, Phone: (727) 410-2705 email: [email protected]

 

 

Florida Trial Court Rules Mortgagee’s Notice Including Info as to Overdue Payments, Amount of Arrears Was Not an Attempt to Collect a Debt

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Robinson v Wells Fargo (FCCPA, Brevard County FL)

A Florida trial court  held that a mortgagee’s direct communication to a borrower regarding funds applied to the loan (which included information as to overdue payments, amount of arrears, and the status of loss mitigation) did not constitute a debt collection communication, and therefore did not violate the Florida Consumer Collection Practices Act’s prohibition on communicating directly with a consumer with knowledge that the consumer is represented by an attorney. 

The Florida Consumer Collection Practices Act (hereinafter FCCPA) defines communication as “the conveying of information regarding a debt directly or indirectly to any person through any medium.”  See §559.55(5).

Under the FCCPA, in collecting consumer debts, no person shall “[c]ommunicate with a debtor if the person knows that the debtor is represented by an attorney with respect to such debt and has knowledge of, or can readily ascertain, such attorney’s name and address, unless the debtor’s attorney fails to respond within 30 days to a communication from the person, unless the debtor’s attorney consents to a direct communication with the debtor, or unless the debtor initiates the communication.”  See §559.72(18).

The Florida trial court held that the correspondence at issue was “informational and not an attempt to collect a debt,” and was not a prohibited communication in violation of §559.72(18).

Carol A. Lawson, Esq., 28870 U.S. Hwy19 #300, Hodusa Towers, Clearwater, FL 33761             Phone: (727) 410-2705;   email: [email protected]

Revised Chapter 13 Model Plan in Ft. Myers and Tampa

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The judges of the Tampa and Ft. Myers Divisions have revised the approved Chapter 13 Model Plan. The revised Model Plan must be used by all Chapter 13 debtors in cases filed on or after June 1, 2014.

Changes from the previous model plan include:
Paragraph 5 which provides that secured creditors who have filed proofs of claim prior to the claims bar date or within 14 days from the date of an order converting or dismissing the case, whichever date is earlier, shall have an administrative lien on plan payments paid by the debtor to the Chapter 13 Trustee prior to confirmation.

Paragraph 5(G), (H) and (I) of the Model Plan.

In 5(G), the debtor may elect to pay secured claims/leased claims direct to the creditor.  If the Debtor makes this election, the automatic stay and any codebtor stay are terminated in rem upon the filing of the Plan.  The debtor’s state law contract rights are not abrogated.

In 5(H), the debtor may designate secured claims that are not provided for under the plan. The automatic stay and any codebtor stay are terminated, the debtor’s liability to the creditor is not discharged under the plan, and the debtor’s state law contract rights are not abrogated.

In 5(I), the debtor may elect to surrender secured/leased property. The automatic stay is terminated in rem as to the secured creditor.

Revisions have also been made to the following form orders to make them consistent with the revised Model Plan: Order Establishing Duties of Debtor, etc., the Order Granting Trustee’s Motion to Dismiss, and the Order Governing Procedures After Conversion to Chapter 7.

Click to download Chapter 13 Plan (pdf)

Carol A. Lawson, Esq., 28870 U.S. Hwy19 #300, Hodusa Towers, Clearwater, FL 33761             Phone: (727) 410-2705;   email: [email protected]