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 -
Foreclosure / Law of the Case: Motion to vacate that attempted to re-litigate issues on standing that had been rejected on direct appeal was precluded by the law of the case doctrine – Schwartz v....more
3/25/2020
/ Bank of America ,
Easements ,
FDCPA ,
Fidelity National Title Insurance Company ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Foreclosure ,
Law of the Case Doctrine ,
RESPA ,
TCPA ,
Title Insurance ,
Vicarious Liability ,
Wells Fargo
Real Property Update -
Forum Selection / Equitable Tolling of Statute of Limitations: Equitable tolling was inapplicable where FDIC failed to raise running of statute of limitations in defense of federal court's dismissal...more
3/11/2020
/ Affidavits ,
Class Action ,
Contract Terms ,
Duty of Care ,
Duty to Warn ,
Equitable Tolling ,
Exclusions ,
Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) ,
FDCPA ,
FDIC ,
Fidelity National Title Insurance Company ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Forum Selection ,
Homeowners Association (HOA) ,
HSBC ,
Interest Accrual ,
Leases ,
Liens ,
Mechanics Lien ,
Negligence ,
Old Republic Title ,
Premises Liability ,
Real Estate Market ,
Summary Judgment ,
Title Insurance ,
TransUnion
Real Property Update -
Construction Lien: a delinquency charge of 1.5 percent found in materialman's contract with general contractor is not a finance charge recoverable under the materialman lien statute, Florida Statutes...more
10/11/2019
/ Aggregation Rules ,
ATDS ,
Attorney's Fees ,
Construction Liens ,
Consumer Financial Products ,
FDCPA ,
Fidelity National Title Insurance Company ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Joint Tenancy ,
Ocwen ,
Original Jurisdiction ,
Partitions ,
Property Access ,
Robocalling ,
TCPA ,
Title Insurance
Real Property Update -
Foreclosure / Doc Stamps: failure to pay documentary stamp and intangible taxes on increased principal balance under loan modification rendered final foreclosure judgment unenforceable - Schroeder v....more
10/11/2019
/ Advertising ,
Consumer Financial Products ,
Debt ,
Debt Collection ,
Documentary Stamp Tax ,
Dual Purpose ,
FDCPA ,
FedEx ,
Fidelity National Title Insurance Company ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Foreclosure ,
Indemnification ,
Loan Modifications ,
Mortgages ,
Motion To Strike ,
Shipping ,
Subrogation ,
TCPA ,
Title Insurance ,
Unjust Enrichment
Real Property Update -
Foreclosure / Condo Assessments: under section 718.116(1)(a), Florida Statutes, present condo owner is jointly and severally liable with the previous owner for unpaid assessments and related expenses...more
8/12/2019
/ Article III ,
Condominium Associations ,
Condominiums ,
Constructive Possession ,
Consumer Financial Products ,
Deutsche Bank ,
Equitable Subrogation ,
Experian ,
Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) ,
FDCPA ,
Fidelity National Title Insurance Company ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Foreclosure ,
Mortgages ,
Standing ,
Statute of Limitations ,
Title Insurance ,
US Bank National Association ,
Wells Fargo
Title Insurance Update -
Bad Faith: granting title insurer summary judgment and holding that bad faith claim under Alabama law requires a contract claim so strong that a prejudgment verdict would be required on it - Fidelity...more
Foreclosure / Amendments to Conform to Evidence: trial court erred in allowing Wells Fargo to amend its complaint during trial to conform to evidence presented of two unpled modification agreements – Tracey v. Wells Fargo...more
4/2/2018
/ Amended Complaints ,
Article III ,
Class Action ,
Class Certification ,
Condominiums ,
Declaration of Condominium ,
FCCPA ,
FDCPA ,
FDUTPA ,
Fidelity National Title Insurance Company ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Foreclosure ,
Inequitable Conduct ,
Insurance Industry ,
Loan Modifications ,
Mortgages ,
Regulatory Violations ,
Standing ,
Tax Appeals ,
Time-Barred Claims ,
Title Insurance ,
Wells Fargo
REAL PROPERTY UPDATE -
Foreclosure/Standing: borrower's standing arguments failed because they were based on notion that note changed hands after it was delivered to World Savings Bank in 2007, when in fact the note...more
3/5/2018
/ Article III ,
ATDS ,
Banking Sector ,
Damages ,
Debt Collection ,
Deutsche Bank ,
FDCPA ,
Fidelity National Title Insurance Company ,
Foreclosure ,
HSBC ,
Insurance Industry ,
Mechanics Lien ,
Mortgages ,
Policy Exclusions ,
Rite Aid ,
Standing ,
Statute of Limitations ,
Sufficient Nexus ,
TCPA ,
Title Insurance ,
Tortious Interference ,
US Bank National Association ,
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/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: where a valid mortgage properly encumbers the subject property, an incorrect deed and a reformation of deed count are not fatal to a foreclosure action - Heartwood 2, LLC v. Dori, Case...more
1/19/2017
/ Affirmative Defenses ,
Banking Sector ,
Banks ,
Consumer Lenders ,
Escrow Accounts ,
Fidelity National Title Insurance Company ,
Financial Institutions ,
Foreclosure ,
Insurance Industry ,
Misappropriation ,
Mortgage Lenders ,
Mortgages ,
Policy Exclusions ,
Real Estate Market ,
Title Insurance
REAL PROPERTY UPDATE -
Foreclosure – Involuntary Dismissal: although lender’s witnesses failed to explain lender’s loan payment history statement, the statement reflected the principal amount due and had been admitted...more
1/11/2017
/ Article III ,
Banking Sector ,
Closing Protection Letters ,
FDIC ,
Fidelity National Title Insurance Company ,
Florida ,
Foreclosure ,
Insurance Industry ,
Lis Pendens ,
Mortgages ,
Real Estate Market ,
Standing ,
Summary Judgment ,
Title Insurance ,
Wells Fargo
REAL PROPERTY UPDATE -
Foreclosure/Hearsay/Business Records: trial court abused its discretion by excluding the mortgage records, which included records from a prior servicer, where plaintiff’s witness demonstrated...more
10/3/2016
/ Bad Faith ,
Bank of New York (BNY) Mellon ,
Banking Sector ,
Business Records ,
Damages ,
Deutsche Bank ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Due Process ,
Fidelity National Title Insurance Company ,
First American Title Insurance Co. ,
Foreclosure ,
Hearsay ,
Insurance Industry ,
Jurisdiction ,
Mortgages ,
Motion to Amend ,
Notice of Default ,
Old Republic Title ,
Real Estate Development ,
Real Estate Market ,
Reverse Mortgages ,
Right of Access ,
Standing ,
Statute of Limitations ,
Statutory Liens ,
Subdivision ,
Summary Judgment ,
Takings Clause ,
Title Insurance ,
Wells Fargo
REAL PROPERTY UPDATE -
Vacation of Subdivision Plats: boards of county commissioners have limited authority under Fla. Stat. sec. 177.101(3) to grant or deny platted property owner’s request for vacation of plat; if...more
9/20/2016
/ Arbitration ,
Class Action ,
Fidelity National Title Insurance Company ,
Insurance Industry ,
Liens ,
Mortgages ,
Motion to Compel ,
Negligence ,
Residential Real Estate Market ,
Short Sales ,
Subdivision ,
Summary Judgment ,
Title Insurance
REAL PROPERTY UPDATE:
Foreclosure/Standing: where copy of note attached to foreclosure complaint contained no endorsement and original note presented at trial had endorsement in favor of plaintiff, plaintiff required to...more
9/15/2016
/ Attorney's Fees ,
Banking Sector ,
Banks ,
Breach of Contract ,
Dismissal With Prejudice ,
Dismissals ,
Ejectment ,
Endorsements ,
Fidelity National Title Insurance Company ,
First American Title Insurance Co. ,
Foreclosure ,
HSBC ,
Insurance Industry ,
Mortgage Lenders ,
Mortgages ,
Negligence ,
Real Estate Market ,
Standing ,
Title Insurance ,
Unjust Enrichment
REAL PROPERTY UPDATE -
Foreclosure/Leave to Amend: borrower should have been granted leave to amend to assert affirmative defenses pursuant to motion filed 13 days before trial because there was no prejudice, the...more
7/11/2016
/ Bad Faith ,
Bank of America ,
Bank of New York (BNY) Mellon ,
Banking Sector ,
Banks ,
Class Action ,
Closing Protection Letters ,
Deficiency Judgments ,
Economic Loss Doctrine ,
Fidelity National Title Insurance Company ,
Foreclosure ,
Homeowners Association (HOA) ,
Insurance Fraud ,
Insurance Industry ,
Leave to Amend ,
Liens ,
Lis Pendens ,
Mortgage Fraud ,
Mortgage Lenders ,
Mortgages ,
Old Republic Title ,
Prejudgment Interest ,
Real Estate Market ,
Standing ,
Summary Judgment ,
Title Insurance ,
US Bank National Association ,
Wells Fargo
REAL PROPERTY UPDATE -
Contracts/Personal Liability: official title of “President” underneath signor’s signature on contract did not shield individual from personal liability because contract language reflected...more
5/26/2016
/ Arbitration ,
Bank of America ,
Bank of New York (BNY) Mellon ,
Banking Sector ,
Consumer Bankruptcy ,
Countrywide ,
Credit Suisse ,
Deutsche Bank ,
Discovery ,
Fidelity National Title Insurance Company ,
Fifth Third Mortgage Company ,
Foreclosure ,
Hearsay ,
Insurance Industry ,
Mortgage Lenders ,
Mortgages ,
Negligence ,
Notice of Default ,
Personal Liability ,
Real Estate Market ,
Standing ,
Summary Judgment ,
Title Insurance ,
US Bank National Association ,
Wells Fargo
REAL PROPERTY UPDATE -
- Ad Valorem Taxation: lessee holding 99-year leasehold interest in unimproved land owned by government entity is not “equitable owner” and thus not liable for ad valorem property taxes pursuant to...more
3/30/2016
/ Ad Valorem Tax ,
Deutsche Bank ,
E&O Insurance ,
Fidelity National Title Insurance Company ,
Foreclosure ,
Insurance Industry ,
JPMorgan Chase ,
Mortgages ,
Property Tax ,
Residential Real Estate Market ,
Statute of Limitations ,
Title Insurance
REAL PROPERTY UPDATE -
- Foreclosure/Standing: substitute plaintiff failed to establish standing to enforce note and fact that original plaintiff had filed original note endorsed in blank before assignment did not...more
3/24/2016
/ Article III ,
Attorney's Fees ,
Banking Sector ,
Deeds ,
Deficiency Judgments ,
Fidelity National Title Insurance Company ,
Foreclosure ,
Homestead Exemption ,
JPMorgan Chase ,
Mortgages ,
Residential Real Estate Market ,
Standing ,
Title Insurance ,
Wells Fargo
REAL PROPERTY UPDATE -
- Foreclosure/Reverse Mortgage: lender not entitled to accelerate debt on reverse mortgage after death of borrower where surviving spouse not designated a borrower on note, but designated a...more
REAL PROPERTY UPDATE -
- Foreclosure/Discovery: trial court erred by declining to rule prior to trial on borrowers’ motion in limine seeking to exclude evidence contrary to bank’s “technical admissions” established by...more
2/24/2016
/ Attorney's Fees ,
Bad Faith ,
Bank of New York (BNY) Mellon ,
Discovery ,
Fidelity National Title Insurance Company ,
Foreclosure ,
HSBC ,
Notice of Default ,
Service of Process ,
Standing ,
Title Insurance ,
Wells Fargo
Real Property Update -
Foreclosure/Standing: filing of original note and mortgage with assignment after complaint filed does not establish standing to sue at inception of suit where endorsement undated and assignment...more
REAL PROPERTY UPDATE -
Foreclosure/Documentary Stamp Tax: deferred interest on a “pick-a-payment” mortgage did not amount to future advance, which would have required payment of documentary stamp tax - Steinberg v. Wells...more
10/27/2015
/ Attorney Malpractice ,
Bank of America ,
Borrowers ,
Consumer Bankruptcy ,
Consumer Lenders ,
Debtors ,
Documentary Stamp Tax ,
Equitable Subrogation ,
Escrow Accounts ,
Fidelity National Title Insurance Company ,
Financial Institutions ,
Foreclosure ,
Homeowners ,
Insurance Industry ,
Loans ,
Mortgage Lenders ,
Mortgage Servicers ,
Mortgages ,
Summary Judgment ,
Title Insurance ,
Wells Fargo
REAL PROPERTY UPDATE -
Foreclosure/Standing: party whose motion to intervene in foreclosure action was denied did not have standing to appeal final judgment of foreclosure – Market Tampa Investments, LLC. V Stobaugh,...more
9/9/2015
/ Banking Sector ,
Banks ,
Construction Industry ,
Consumer Lenders ,
Deficiency Judgments ,
Dismissal With Prejudice ,
Duty of Care ,
Escrow Accounts ,
Fidelity National Title Insurance Company ,
Final Judgment ,
Financial Institutions ,
First American Title Insurance Co. ,
Foreclosure ,
GMAC ,
Insurance Industry ,
Mechanics Lien ,
Mortgage Lenders ,
Mortgage Servicers ,
Mortgages ,
Motion To Intervene ,
Old Republic Title ,
Ratification ,
Real Estate Market ,
Recusal ,
Standing ,
Title Insurance ,
Wells Fargo