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Yearly Archives: 2015

Pleading The Fifth Amendment Against Self-Incrimination In Civil Cases Filed In Florida

September 10, 2015 Professional Services Industry Legal Blog

Does a party in a civil dispute have the right to raise the Fifth Amendment Privilege against self-incrimination? Yes. De Lisi v. Bankers Ins. Co., 436 So.2d 1099 (Fla. 4th DCA 1983). Does the privilege extend to production of documents or just testimony? The privilege only extends to the production of documents unless the production itself is testimonial in nature. Briggs v. Salcines, 392 So.2d 263 (Fla. 2d DCA 1980) (“It then held that while the Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination affords no protection to the contents of previously prepared documents, it does protect a person from producing documents under subpoena where the compelled production would amount to a forced testimonial communication which would be incriminating.”); see also, Fisher v. United States, 96 S. Ct. 1569 (1976). Whether the act of production is testimonial or not can be a complicated analysis. Essentially, if the government were to already know of the existence of documents and the location of such documents then production is not testimonial because the act of producing will not authenticate such documents or otherwise verify the existence of incriminating information.

Protecting Property Interests and Rights in Eminent Domain Actions and Government Takings: Part IV

September 8, 2015 Construction Industry Legal Blog, Florida Eminent Domain Law Blog

This blog post is part IV in a series of posts to assist private property owners with protecting their property interests and rights in eminent domain actions and government takings. Part I provided a general overview of eminent domain and the government’s ability to take private property for public use. Part II discussed Florida law on the allowable scope for the taking of private property, which is determined by the element of reasonable necessity. Part III addressed regulatory takings. This post will discuss “just compensation” and how it is determined.

Businesses Have Standing to sue Under the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act

September 3, 2015 Professional Services Industry Legal Blog

A recent decision from the Fourth District Court of Appeals marks one of the first Florida appellate opinions holding that non-consumers may maintain a cause of action under the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act (“FDUTPA”). Given the broad—and almost limitless—scope of “unfair or deceptive acts or practices in the conduct of any trade or business” prohibited by the act, some could foresee this decision as a precursor to FDUPTA claims being asserted by nearly every commercial litigant. Fortunately, the 4th DCA clarified the parameters on FDUPTA claims: while a claimant need not be a consumer to bring a FDUPTA claim, the claimant must still prove an injury or detriment to consumers to establish liability.

Condominium Special Assessments in Florida: Understanding the Business Judgment Rule

August 31, 2015 Community Association Industry Legal Blog

Special assessments, under the Florida Condominium Act, are those assessments imposed against condominium unit owners, other than those assessments required by the association’s annual budget. See 718.103 (24) of the Florida Statutes. Regular assessments, on the other hand, are fees collected from condominium unit owners for the payment of common expenses of the association. See 718.103 (1) of the Florida Statutes. If a condominium board votes to pass a special assessment, such a decision will be subject to the business judgment rule. See Cedar Cove Efficiency Condominium Association, Inc. v. Cedar Cove Properties, Inc., 558 So. 2d 475 (Fla 1st DCA 1990). If that judgment is properly exercised, a Florida court will not supplement its judgment for that of the board.

Riparian Rights in Florida: Docking and Wharfing

August 24, 2015 Community Association Industry Legal Blog, Real Estate Development, Sales and Leasing Industry Legal Blog

Ownership of waterfront property is particularly desirable in Florida and often involves unique real property considerations.  It is often difficult to distinguish where the private land rights cease and the sovereign land ownership begins.  As a result, a subset of real property law has emerged to address what is called […]

Protecting Property Interests and Rights in Eminent Domain Actions and Government Takings: Part III – Regulatory Taking

August 18, 2015 Florida Eminent Domain Law Blog

This blog post is part III in a series of posts to assist private property owners with protecting their property interests and rights in eminent domain actions and government takings. Part I provided a general overview of eminent domain and the government’s ability to take private property for public use. Part II discussed Florida law on the allowable scope for the taking of private property, which is determined by the element of reasonable necessity. This post will address regulatory takings that affect private property rights.

Top Five Things Real Estate Developers Should Know About Florida’s Construction Laws

August 17, 2015 Construction Industry Legal Blog

While real estate developers should be well-versed in Florida’s construction laws, there are particular aspects of construction law that developers should know backwards and forwards. This blog post will discuss the top five things real estate developers should know about Florida’s construction laws including proper payment, warranty liability, claims under Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act (“FDUPTA”), claims under Chapter 558, Florida Statutes, and the timing limitations of claims imposed by the statute of limitations and repose.

Evicting Tenants After Foreclosure

August 17, 2015 Banking & Financial Services Industry Legal Blog, Real Estate Development, Sales and Leasing Industry Legal Blog

Lenders should be aware of a new Florida law, which requires lenders to provide existing tenants with at least thirty days to vacate the property after the foreclosure sale. Florida Statute § 83.561, titled “Termination of Rental Agreement Upon Foreclosure”, became effective on July 1, 2015. The law replaces a recently expired federal law titled Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act. As such, the implementation of this new Florida statute may come as no surprise to lenders. However, lenders should understand their statutory rights and responsibilities prior to evicting tenants after foreclosure.

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