This Blog is Part V in a series of Blogs designed to provide business owners with a high-level overview of the legal process for collecting on past-due accounts receivables. Specifically, Part V focuses on garnishing a debtor’s bank accounts in order to satisfy the outstanding judgment debt.
On July 11, 2013, the Florida Supreme Court adopted the “essential services” test in determining whether the implied warranty of fitness and merchantability applies to improvements such as infrastructure, drainage systems, retention ponds, and underground pipes. Maronda Homes, Inc. of Florida v. Lakeview Reserve Homeowners Association, Inc., 38 Fla. L. Weekly S 573. In deciding the case, the Florida Supreme Court resolved a split of authority between two Florida appellate courts, and addressed a recently-adopted Florida statute dealing with such improvements. Compare Port Sewall Harbor & Tennis Club Owners Association, Inc. v. First Federal Savings & Loan Association of Martin County, 463 So. 2d 530 (Fla. 4th DCA 1985) with Lakeview Reserve Homeowners v. Maronda Homes, Inc., 48 So. 3d 902 (Fla. 5th DCA 2010); § 553.835, Fla. Stat. While the Court’s ruling is subject to rehearing motion (and, therefore, not yet final), it is an important holding that could significantly affect Florida’s construction and design industry.
This Blog is Part IV in a series of Blogs designed to provide business owners with a high-level overview of the legal process for collecting on past-due accounts receivables. Specifically, Part IV focuses on various methods of post-judgment discovery that a creditor can use for locating assets of the debtor to satisfy the judgment.
In the face of wage claims under section 448.110, Florida Statutes, the existence of an independent contractor agreement not always dispositive in classifying an individual as an independent contractor or an employee for the purpose of a wage dispute. Courts consider a number of factors when deciding whether an individual qualifies as either an employee or independent contractor under section 448.110, and the existence of an independent contractor agreement is not dispositive, nor given much weight, in this decision.
Very often in a debt collection action, whether a breached contract, defaulted secured note or otherwise, there will be a debtor who is trying to deplete corporate assets (frequently real property) before the inevitable judgment can be rendered. Sometimes depletion isn’t intentional, it is just a byproduct of the business judgment issues that created the problem in the first place. In those circumstances where assets are being wasted, and many more, creditors should consider seeking the appointment of a state court receiver. Receivers can serve as watchdogs for the business, ensuring that status quo is maintained so that the creditors are able to recover whatever assets may remain with an orderly liquidation. In the matters we handle for lenders (and other creditors), receivers come in very handy in the active management of the collateral properties. Appointment of receivers is not a remedy for every case, however, as it often has just as many challenges associated as it does benefits. This Blog post seeks to explore those benefits and drawbacks.
The Florida Revised Limited Liability Act (the “Act”), which will become Chapter 605 of the Florida Statutes, passed unanimously in both the Florida House and Senate. The Act is effective for every new Florida LLC formed on or after July 1, 2014. For existing LLCs, the Act becomes effective on an elective basis between July 1, 2014 and January 1, 2015 and becomes mandatory as to every Florida LLC on January 1, 2015. The question all Florida LLC members want to know is, “How will this new Act affect me and my business?”
Are you a business owner experiencing parking issues on your commercial property? How about a condominium association with parking issues on residential property? In Florida, private property owners, along with their agents, have authority under the Florida Statutes to tow unauthorized vehicles off their property. Fla. Stat. § 715.07 (2012). In doing so, you want to make sure you follow Florida law or else you may be liable for certain expenses and damages.
The fifth installment in a five part series entitled “Top 5 Construction Mediation Tips and Techniques.” The Blog posts from this series are intended to be cumulative and should be reviewed as a whole in order to fully receive the message of the author. My fifth and final construction mediation tip is to draft your settlement documents in advance of the construction mediation so that you are not racking your brain trying to compose key language for a binding legal document late at night after trudging through a long day of hard-nosed negotiations.
Please allow this Blog post to serve as the fourth installment in a five part series entitled “Top 5 Construction Mediation Tips and Techniques.” The Blog posts from this series are intended to be cumulative and should be reviewed as a whole in order to fully receive the message of the author. This post will focus on the importance of participation in the pre-mediation process.
The third installment in a five part series entitled “Top 5 Construction Mediation Tips and Techniques.” The Blog posts from this series are intended to be cumulative and should be reviewed as a whole in order to fully receive the message of the author. This post will focus on the importance of understanding barriers to settlement and overcoming those barriers.