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Monthly Archives: April 2017

House Bill 377 Clarifies Date of Completion of the Contract for Statute of Repose—a Legislative Win for Contractors

April 27, 2017 Construction Industry Legal Blog

On March 30, 2017, the Florida House of Representatives unanimously passed House Bill 377. The Bill is still working its way through the Senate, but has received a favorable response and is predicted to pass. If it becomes law, HB 377 will amend the construction defect statute of repose to clarify that the “date of completion of the contract” is the date that final payment becomes due.

Is the LLC Right for Your New Business?: Pros and Cons of Structuring Your Business as a Limited Liability Company

April 25, 2017 Professional Services Industry Legal Blog

You have created your business plan and now you are ready to put your plan into motion and start your own company. The next step is to consider which business structure suits your business. A business can be structured as a sole-proprietorship, partnership, limited partnership, corporation, S-corporation, or a limited liability company. The limited liability company structure boasts many advantages, but also brings with it some disadvantages to consider.

Community Association Reserve Funding: Pooled Method vs. Component Method

April 14, 2017 Community Association Industry Legal Blog

Reserve funding for certain common element items is required for community associations under Florida law. Specifically, condominium associations must fund reserves for roof replacement, building painting, pavement resurfacing and any other item that has a maintenance expense or replacement cost exceeding $10,000. Fla. Stat. § 718.112(2)(f). For homeowners’ associations, if the developer initially established reserve accounts or the members affirmatively elect to provide for reserves, then the association must fund those reserve items in future budgets. Fla. Stat. § 720.303(6)(b).

Common Deficiencies in Eminent Domain Real Estate Appraisals

April 12, 2017 Florida Eminent Domain Law Blog

Eminent domain proceedings are legal proceedings brought by the government, or an entity acting on behalf of the government, to seize private property for public purposes. The government has the right to seize private property for public use only if the property owner receives full compensation. During the eminent domain proceedings, the issue typically turns on whether the landowner has received a fair appraisal in order to receive full compensation for land. Oftentimes, a property is not properly appraised and just compensation is not offered. While the following list below is not an exclusive list, these are common deficiencies that landowners and landowner attorneys can look for when evaluating the adequacy of the government’s real estate valuation.

Rock, Paper, Scissors, Shoot: Deadlock-Breaking Mechanisms in Limited Liability Companies

April 10, 2017 Professional Services Industry Legal Blog

A well thought out and properly drafted LLC operating agreement will deliver deadlock-breaking mechanisms that will aid the members of LLCs in avoiding the need for expensive, prolonged, and disrupting litigation. However, if the operating agreement fails to deliver deadlock-breaking mechanisms or these mechanisms fail, resorting to the judiciary and alternative dispute resolution offers members flexible substitutes to achieve a resolution through adversary proceedings.

Community Association Case Law Update: Selective Enforcement and Violations When Installing Hardwood Floors

April 6, 2017 Community Association Industry Legal Blog

Earlier this year the Third District Court of Appeals narrowed two significant unit owner defenses to enforcement actions, selective enforcement and waiver/estoppel when it decided Laguna Tropical, a Condominium Association, Inc. v. Barnave, Case No. 3D16–1531 (Fla. 3d DCA January 25, 2017). For more on the doctrine of Selective Enforcement, please review our October 2014 blog posting.

What Community Associations Should Know About the Fair Housing Act

April 5, 2017 Community Association Industry Legal Blog

Community association board members and managers are often so preoccupied ensuring compliance with state and local laws that they can sometimes overlook controlling federal law. Multiple federal statutory acts can apply to community associations in any given situation and overlooking those federal laws can have costly consequences. One such area of federal law that governs every community association at all times is the Fair Housing Act (“FHA”).

Order of Taking: What You Should Know When the Government Sues to Quickly Take your Property under Eminent Domain

April 4, 2017 Florida Eminent Domain Law Blog

Whether you are a landowner, a tenant or a business on property subject to eminent domain, you should not be surprised when the government (or condemning authority) files a lawsuit against you to take your property. After all, the condemning authority is required to follow strict pre-suit notice and negotiation protocols before any lawsuit is filed to take your property. See Brandon C. Meadows’ and Charles B. Jimerson’s article on the procedures the government must follow before filing an eminent domain lawsuit.

Nonetheless, you have been sued by the government, which is seeking an order of taking against your property. Understanding the process and your substantive rights in the lawsuit will ensure that you are best equipped to obtain full and fair compensation for your property.

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