Real Property Update -
Condo Termination / Mandatory Arbitration: Unit owner could not pursue claims relating to condo termination for failure to comply with Florida Statutes section 718.117(16), which required unit...more
8/12/2020
/ Condition Precedent ,
Condominiums ,
Constructive Trusts ,
Consumer Financial Products ,
Cybersecurity ,
Deficiency Judgments ,
Financial Services Industry ,
First American Title Insurance Co. ,
Foreclosure ,
Fraudulent Transfers ,
Mortgage Lenders ,
Mortgages ,
Title Insurance
Real Property Update -
Foreclosure / Condition Precedent: Borrower who raises an affirmative defense, such as failure of conditions precedent, bears the burden of proving that affirmative defense even if lender's complaint...more
7/14/2020
/ Attorney's Fees ,
Breach of Contract ,
Class Action ,
Condition Precedent ,
Condominiums ,
Debt ,
FCCPA ,
Financial Services Industry ,
First American Title Insurance Co. ,
Foreclosure ,
Mortgages ,
TCPA ,
Title Insurance ,
Tort ,
Wells Fargo
Real Property Update -
Foreclosure: Where the foreclosure defendant was properly served, and default and default final judgment was entered against said defendant, the defendant can only contest the unliquidated damages...more
4/15/2020
/ Class Action ,
Deutsche Bank ,
Duty to Defend ,
FDCPA ,
FDUTPA ,
Fidelity National Title Insurance Company ,
Financial Services Industry ,
First American Title Insurance Co. ,
Foreclosure ,
Mortgages ,
Right of First Refusal ,
Standing ,
TCPA ,
Title Insurance ,
US Bank National Association
Real Property Update -
Fraudulent Transfer: Real property that was worth less than mortgage encumbering it was not an asset per the plain language of section 726.102(2) and, therefore, could not support fraudulent transfer...more
2/19/2020
/ ATDS ,
Attorney's Fees ,
Auto-Dialed Calls ,
Borrowers ,
Chapter 13 ,
Class Action ,
Class Certification ,
Condominiums ,
Consumer Financial Products ,
Consumer Loan Companies ,
Damages ,
Debt ,
Debt Collection ,
E&O Insurance ,
FCCPA ,
FDCPA ,
Federal Student Loans ,
Fiduciary Duty ,
Financial Services Industry ,
First American Title Insurance Co. ,
Foreclosure ,
Fraudulent Transfers ,
Jurisdiction ,
Jury Trial ,
Lenders ,
Loans ,
Mortgages ,
Real Estate Market ,
Real Estate Transactions ,
Statute of Limitations ,
Stays ,
SunTrust ,
TCPA ,
Text Messages ,
Third-Party ,
Title Insurance ,
Unjust Enrichment ,
US Bank National Association ,
Venue ,
Waivers
Real Property Update -
Foreclosure / Bankruptcy / Surrender: borrower cannot challenge judgment of foreclosure entered upon judicial notice of his statement of intention to surrender the property and order of discharge...more
10/31/2019
/ Bad Faith ,
Consumer Bankruptcy ,
Consumer Financial Products ,
Debt Collection ,
Dischargeable Debts ,
FDCPA ,
Financial Services Industry ,
First American Title Insurance Co. ,
Foreclosure ,
Forgery ,
Fraud ,
JPMorgan Chase ,
Loans ,
Mortgages ,
Negligence ,
Policy Exclusions ,
Policy Terms ,
Promissory Notes ,
Property Surrender ,
Regulatory Violations ,
RESPA ,
Rooker-Feldman Doctrine ,
Time-Barred Claims ,
Title Insurance
Real Property Update -
Ad Valorem Taxes: in a matter of first impression, county's immunity from taxation does not extend extraterritorially to property it owns in another Florida county - Joiner v. Pinellas Cnty., Fla.,...more
5/22/2019
/ Ad Valorem Tax ,
Attorney's Fees ,
Deeds ,
Demand Letter ,
Depositions ,
Expert Witness ,
Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) ,
FDCPA ,
Financial Services Industry ,
First American Title Insurance Co. ,
Foreclosure ,
Fraud ,
Homeowners Association (HOA) ,
HSBC ,
Mortgages ,
Motion To Intervene ,
Old Republic Title ,
Policy Exclusions ,
Preemption ,
Recoupment ,
Statute of Limitations ,
Summary Judgment ,
Title Insurance ,
US Bank National Association ,
Wells Fargo
Real Property Update -
Foreclosure / Attorneys' Fees: borrower not entitled to attorneys' fees for prevailing on lender's claim for reformation of mortgage, where lender prevailed on claim of foreclosure without...more
4/24/2019
/ Attorney's Fees ,
Consumer Financial Products ,
Deutsche Bank ,
Equitable Subrogation ,
Financial Services Industry ,
First American Title Insurance Co. ,
Foreclosure ,
Insurance Litigation ,
Inverse Condemnation ,
Marketable Title ,
Mortgages ,
Policy Terms ,
Promissory Notes ,
State Departments of Transportation ,
Statute of Limitations ,
Uniform Commercial Code (UCC)
Financial Services Update -
FDCPA / definition of "debt collector": law firm carrying out a nonjudicial foreclosure action not a debt collector because the primary definition of a "debt collector" under sec. 1692a does not...more
4/24/2019
/ Administrative Procedure Act ,
Concurrent Litigation ,
Consumer Financial Products ,
Debt Collection ,
FDCPA ,
Financial Services Industry ,
First American Title Insurance Co. ,
Foreclosure ,
Insurance Litigation ,
Mortgages ,
Negligence ,
Professional Negligence ,
Standing ,
Statute of Limitations ,
TCPA ,
Title Insurance ,
US Bank National Association
Financial Services Update -
FDCPA: no liability for a debt collector that provides the name of the hospital, the account number, patient name, date of service, and amount of debt, but who fails to include the word "creditor"...more
3/20/2019
/ Article III ,
ATDS ,
Commercial Insurance Policies ,
Covenant of Good Faith and Fair Dealing ,
Debt Collection ,
Department of Financial Services ,
Duty to Defend ,
Duty to Indemnify ,
FDCPA ,
Financial Services Industry ,
First American Title Insurance Co. ,
Insurance Regulations ,
Invasion of Privacy ,
Mortgages ,
Policy Exclusions ,
Standing ,
TCPA ,
Telemarketing ,
Title Insurance
REAL PROPERTY UPDATE -
Foreclosure/Statute of Limitations & Res Judicata: trial court erred in finding that bank's foreclosure action was barred by statute of limitations and res judicata - U.S. Bank Nat'l Ass'n, etc. v....more
8/2/2018
/ Auto-Dialed Calls ,
Deutsche Bank ,
FDCPA ,
Financial Services Industry ,
First American Title Insurance Co. ,
Foreclosure ,
Material Misrepresentation ,
Mortgages ,
Nationstar ,
Res Judicata ,
RESPA ,
Right of Redemption ,
Statute of Limitations ,
TCPA ,
Time Warner Cable ,
Title Insurance ,
US Bank National Association
REAL PROPERTY UPDATE -
Foreclosure/Standing: bank's allegation in complaint that it acquired loan and possessed both legal and beneficial interest in note and mortgage prior to filing complaint, coupled with the subsequent...more
6/6/2018
/ Article III ,
Attorney's Fees ,
Bank of New York (BNY) Mellon ,
Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) ,
FDCPA ,
Financial Services Industry ,
First American Title Insurance Co. ,
Foreclosure ,
HELOC ,
JPMorgan Chase ,
Mortgages ,
Policy Exclusions ,
RICO ,
Standing ,
Statute of Limitations ,
TCPA ,
Title Insurance ,
Wells Fargo
REAL PROPERTY UPDATE -
Summary Judgment: incorporation of an affirmative defense by referencing “previously filed pleadings” does not obviate movant’s obligation to comply with particularity requirements mandated by rule...more
5/16/2018
/ Ally Financial Inc ,
American Express ,
Article III ,
Bank of America ,
BAPCPA ,
Chapter 7 ,
Condominiums ,
Consumer Bankruptcy ,
Debt Collectors ,
Deutsche Bank ,
Equifax ,
Exculpatory Clauses ,
Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) ,
FDCPA ,
Financial Services Industry ,
First American Title Insurance Co. ,
Foreclosure ,
HOA Dues ,
Leases ,
Mortgages ,
Negligence ,
Repossess ,
Standing ,
Title Insurance ,
Truth in Lending Act (TILA) ,
Wells Fargo
REAL PROPERTY UPDATE -
Lis Pendens: lawsuit to foreclose mortgage on real property is an action "founded on a duly recorded instrument" - National American Home, LLC v Deutsche Bank Nat. Trust Co., Case No. 4D17-2614 (Fla....more
4/25/2018
/ Attorney's Fees ,
Bank of New York (BNY) Mellon ,
Condition Precedent ,
Debt Collection ,
Deutsche Bank ,
Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) ,
FCCPA ,
FDCPA ,
Financial Services Industry ,
First American Title Insurance Co. ,
Foreclosure ,
Lis Pendens ,
Marketable Title ,
Mortgages ,
Pleadings ,
Regulatory Violations ,
RESPA ,
RICO ,
TCPA ,
Title Insurance ,
US Bank National Association
REAL PROPERTY UPDATE -
Standing/Foreclosure: pursuant to Florida Rule of Procedure 1.260, the assignee of a note during pendency of a foreclosure acquires standing of original plaintiff lender - Spicer v Ocwen Loan...more
1/25/2018
/ Article III ,
Banking Sector ,
Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) ,
FCCPA ,
FDCPA ,
Financial Services Industry ,
First American Title Insurance Co. ,
Foreclosure ,
Insurance Industry ,
Mortgage Fraud ,
Mortgages ,
Nationstar ,
Property Damage ,
RESPA ,
Sinkhole ,
Standing ,
State Farm ,
Statute of Limitations ,
TCPA ,
Title Insurance ,
Truth in Lending Act (TILA) ,
Wells Fargo
REAL PROPERTY UPDATE -
Receiver/Barton Doctrine: individual could not bring negligence action against discharged receiver of commercial property until individual first obtained leave to do so from the court that appointed...more
12/1/2017
/ Bank of America ,
Banking Sector ,
Barton Doctrine ,
Debt Collection ,
ECOA ,
Equitable Subrogation ,
Experian ,
Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) ,
FCCPA ,
FDCPA ,
Financial Services Industry ,
First American Title Insurance Co. ,
Foreclosure ,
Insurance Industry ,
Mortgages ,
Motion to Dismiss ,
Negligent Misrepresentation ,
RESPA ,
Statute of Limitations ,
Summary Judgment ,
TCPA ,
Title Insurance ,
Truth in Lending Act (TILA) ,
Wells Fargo
REAL PROPERTY UPDATE -
Summary judgment: trial court erred by denying borrower’s motion to amend answer and defenses, and therefore erred in entering summary judgment in favor of lender. Reyes v BAC Home Loans Servicing...more
9/20/2017
/ Arbitration ,
Banking Sector ,
Class Action ,
Fidelity National Title Insurance Company ,
Financial Services Industry ,
First American Title Insurance Co. ,
Foreclosure ,
Insurance Industry ,
Mortgage Lenders ,
Mortgages ,
Professional Liability ,
Title Insurance ,
Truth in Lending Act (TILA) ,
Wells Fargo
REAL PROPERTY UPDATE -
Foreclosure / Statute of Limitations: trial court improperly found that, because payments due under a note and mortgage were accelerated in a prior 2009 action, the second action filed over five...more
9/6/2017
/ Article III ,
Bank of America ,
Bank of New York (BNY) Mellon ,
Banking Sector ,
First American Title Insurance Co. ,
Foreclosure ,
Indemnity ,
Insurance Industry ,
Lis Pendens ,
Mortgages ,
Sinkhole ,
Standing ,
Statute of Frauds ,
Statute of Limitations ,
Title Insurance ,
US Bank ,
Wells Fargo
REAL PROPERTY UPDATE -
Foreclosure/Redemption: foreclosure sale conducted without knowledge of bankruptcy affirmed, but trial court orders denying mortgagor opportunity to redeem property before certificate of sale actually...more
8/8/2017
/ Banking Sector ,
Class Action ,
Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) ,
FDCPA ,
Financial Services Industry ,
First American Title Insurance Co. ,
Foreclosure ,
Insurance Industry ,
Mortgages ,
Nationstar ,
Policy Terms ,
TCPA ,
Title Insurance ,
Title Search ,
Truth in Lending Act (TILA) ,
Unsolicited Faxes
REAL PROPERTY UPDATE -
Foreclosure/Standing: note owner had constructive possession of promissory note in original servicer’s physically possession of blank-endorsed note when it filed the complaint, and had standing to...more
7/26/2017
/ Banking Sector ,
Citigroup ,
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) ,
Expert Testimony ,
First American Title Insurance Co. ,
Foreclosure ,
Insurance Industry ,
JPMorgan Chase ,
Mortgage Lenders ,
Mortgages ,
Quicken Loans ,
Res Judicata ,
RESPA ,
Standing ,
Statute of Limitations ,
Title Insurance ,
US Bank National Association
REAL PROPERTY UPDATE -
Foreclosure: final summary judgment in borrower’s favor inappropriate where borrower merely asserted that lender mistakenly filed copy of original note with court, instead of original, and where...more
5/9/2017
/ Bank of New York (BNY) Mellon ,
Banking Sector ,
Deficiency Judgments ,
Due Process ,
Duty to Defend ,
Estoppel ,
First American Title Insurance Co. ,
Foreclosure ,
HSBC ,
Insurance Industry ,
Insurance Litigation ,
Mortgages ,
Property Tax ,
Protective Orders ,
Restrictive Covenants ,
Standing ,
Title Insurance ,
US Bank National Association ,
Vacation Rentals
REAL PROPERTY UPDATE -
Foreclosure/Attorneys’ Fees: mortgage foreclosure plaintiffs seeking attorney’s fees must support their claim with competent, substantial evidence of the number of hours worked and evidence that...more
4/25/2017
/ Attorney's Fees ,
Bad Faith ,
Bank of America ,
Bank of New York (BNY) Mellon ,
Banking Sector ,
Covenant of Good Faith and Fair Dealing ,
Deutsche Bank ,
Estoppel ,
First American Title Insurance Co. ,
Foreclosure ,
Homeowners Association (HOA) ,
Insurance Industry ,
Mortgages ,
Old Republic Title ,
Real Estate Market ,
Reverse Mortgages ,
Standing ,
Title Insurance ,
US Bank National Association ,
Wells Fargo
REAL PROPERTY UPDATE -
Foreclosure/Deficiency Judgment: where a foreclosing bank acquires in rem jurisdiction via service by publication in underlying foreclosure action, bank may still seek personal service over an...more
4/12/2017
/ Acceleration ,
Banking Sector ,
Cause of Action Accrual ,
Closing Documents ,
Double Recovery ,
Duty to Defend ,
FDIC ,
Financial Institutions ,
First American Title Insurance Co. ,
Foreclosure ,
In Rem Jurisdiction ,
Insurance Industry ,
JPMorgan Chase ,
Lis Pendens ,
Mortgage Lenders ,
Mortgages ,
Personal Jurisdiction ,
Real Estate Market ,
Title Insurance ,
US Bank National Association ,
Wells Fargo
REAL PROPERTY UPDATE -
Coequal Liens: trial court properly authorized tax collector to issue tax certificates subject to community development district’s assessment liens – Villages of Avignon Community Dev. Dist. v....more
3/21/2017
/ Article III ,
Bank of New York (BNY) Mellon ,
Banking Sector ,
Duty to Defend ,
Ejectment ,
First American Title Insurance Co. ,
Foreclosure ,
Homestead Exemption ,
Insurance Industry ,
Liens ,
Lis Pendens ,
Mortgages ,
Real Estate Market ,
Res Judicata ,
Standing ,
Statute of Limitations ,
Summary Judgment ,
Title Insurance ,
US Bank National Association
REAL PROPERTY UPDATE -
Foreclosure/Lis Pendens: a proper reading of Florida Statute section 48.23(1)(d) is that “when a foreclosure action is prosecuted to a judicial sale, that sale discharges all liens, whether...more
2/3/2017
/ Administrative Review Board ,
Appeals ,
Bank of America ,
Banking Sector ,
Banks ,
Claim Preclusion ,
Collateral Estoppel ,
Deficiency Notices ,
Eminent Domain ,
Fidelity National Title Insurance Company ,
Final Judgment ,
First American Title Insurance Co. ,
Florida ,
Foreclosure ,
Lauderdale-by-the-Sea ,
Lis Pendens ,
Mortgages ,
Real Estate Market ,
Statute of Limitations ,
Title Insurance
REAL PROPERTY UPDATE -
Foreclosure/Constitutional Challenge: record title owner’s argument that Florida Statutes section 702.035, governing “Legal notice concerning foreclosure proceedings,” is an unconstitutional...more
11/18/2016
/ Arbitration ,
Article III ,
Bank of America ,
Bank of New York (BNY) Mellon ,
Banking Sector ,
Banks ,
Class Action ,
Constitutional Challenges ,
Consumer Lenders ,
Diversity Jurisdiction ,
Economic Loss Doctrine ,
Financial Institutions ,
First American Title Insurance Co. ,
Foreclosure ,
Insurance Industry ,
Mortgage Lenders ,
Mortgages ,
Motion to Vacate ,
Punitive Damages ,
Real Estate Market ,
Standing ,
Statute of Limitations ,
Title Insurance ,
US Bank National Association ,
Voluntary Dismissals