On May 8, 2023, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law Senate Bill 264, creating Florida Statutes sections 692.201 through 692.205, which prohibits the direct or indirect ownership of various categories of real estate by...more
5/18/2023
/ China ,
Cuba ,
Florida ,
Foreign Ownership ,
Governor DeSantis ,
Indirect Ownership ,
Iran ,
New Legislation ,
North Korea ,
Penalties ,
Property Ownership ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Russia ,
Syria ,
Venezuela ,
Webinars
On May 8, 2023, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law Senate Bill 264, creating Florida Statutes sections 692.201 through 692.205, which prohibits the direct or indirect ownership of various categories of real estate by...more
Can one team play in two cities (or countries)?
The Tampa Bay Rays have proposed a "sister city" plan, allowing the MLB team to play one half of the season in the Tampa Bay area and the remainder in Montreal, split between...more
There are no adverse consequences, other than transaction costs, to engaging in tax planning before immigrating to the United States. However, there may be significant adverse tax consequences if you fail to engage in any tax...more
There are no adverse consequences, other than transaction costs, to engaging in tax planning before immigrating to the United States. However, there may be significant adverse tax consequences if you fail to engage in any tax...more
In November 2018, more than 57 percent of Hillsborough County voters approved the imposition of a 1 percent sales tax designed to improve the county’s transportation infrastructure and transit service. The tax, enacted...more
More than 57 percent of Hillsborough County voters approved the imposition of a 1 percent sales tax designed to improve the County’s transportation infrastructure and transit service. ...more
Regulators Demand Third-Party Risk Management -
While third-party risk management has been a required component of an effective enterprise risk management program for many years, the topic is receiving elevated attention...more
4/18/2017
/ Article III ,
Clean Shares ,
Elder Abuse ,
Exploitation ,
Fiduciary Exception ,
Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Injury-in-Fact ,
Insurance Industry ,
Insurance Litigation ,
Life Insurance ,
Mutual Funds ,
NAIC ,
Reinsurance ,
Sales Commissions ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Securities Settlement Cycles ,
Spokeo v Robins ,
Standing ,
Third Party Funding ,
Third-Party Risk ,
Unfair Competition Law (UCL) ,
Variable Annuities ,
Vulnerable Victims
Rules of the (International) Road -
An Overview -
Going international is a complicated undertaking. Your specific situation and concerns will determine the steps required. The following outlines, very generally,...more
3/22/2017
/ BEPS ,
China ,
Commercial Leases ,
Cuba ,
Insurance Industry ,
Intangible Property ,
International Relations ,
International Travel ,
Investment ,
Multinationals ,
Retail Market ,
Tax Planning ,
Travel Ban ,
Trump Administration
The entire Chinese economy, including its insurance industry, has experienced rapid growth in recent years. Speculative investments have become an inevitable byproduct of this growth. One of the most well-known examples of a...more
The U.S. Pre-Immigration Tax Planning brochure provides information on the U.S. Tax Code, income tax, estate and gift tax, and pre-immigration considerations, in addition to real-world examples.
There are no adverse...more
REAL PROPERTY UPDATE -
Lien Priority: claimant’s judgment lien related back to recording of lis pendens and therefore took priority over competing judgment lien obtained after lis pendens but before entry of claimant’s...more
6/16/2015
/ Attorney's Fees ,
Contractors ,
Eminent Domain ,
Equitable Easements ,
Equitable Lien ,
First American Title Insurance Co. ,
FL Supreme Court ,
Foreclosure ,
HSBC ,
Liens ,
Loan Servicer ,
Real Estate Market ,
Statute of Limitations ,
Title Insurance ,
Trespass
REAL PROPERTY UPDATE -
Duty to Disclose/Vacant Property: plaintiff failed to present competent, substantial evidence of existence of fact materially affecting value of property and did not prove defendants had actual...more
6/3/2015
/ Affirmative Defenses ,
Breach of Contract ,
Commercial Leases ,
Duty to Defend ,
Duty to Disclose ,
Foreclosure ,
Genuine Issue of Material Fact ,
Negligence ,
Notice Requirements ,
Property Valuation ,
Restrictive Covenants ,
Title Insurance ,
Underwriting
REAL PROPERTY UPDATE -
State-Created Entity/First-Party Bad Faith: immunity of Citizens, as provided in Section 627.351(6)(s), Florida Statutes, shields it from statutory first-party bad faith claims under Section...more
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF INSURANCE COMMISSIONERS -
Title Insurance Task Force To Survey Affiliated Business Arrangements: The Title Insurance Task Force (“Task Force”) recently conducted a conference call and among the...more
Foreclosure: trial court abused its discretion in dismissing foreclosure action with prejudice, cancelling substantial debt, and denying lender ability to refile a foreclosure action without making finding of facts as...more
5/13/2015
/ Bank of America ,
Bank of New York (BNY) Mellon ,
Business Records ,
Countrywide ,
Deficiency Judgments ,
Equitable Lien ,
Foreclosure ,
GMAC ,
HSBC ,
Lis Pendens ,
Mortgages ,
Promissory Fraud ,
Promissory Notes ,
Remand ,
Res Judicata ,
Residential Property Owners ,
Standing ,
Uniform Commercial Code (UCC)
Statute of Limitations/Liens: one year statute of limitations to enforce equitable lien under Fla. Stat. sec. 95.11(5)(b) runs from last furnishing of labor, services, or material for improvement of real property; Fla. Stat....more
4/29/2015
/ Attorney's Fees ,
Class Action ,
Commercial Leases ,
Construction Contracts ,
Construction Industry ,
Contractors ,
Discovery ,
Equitable Lien ,
FCCPA ,
Foreclosure ,
Liens ,
Statute of Limitations ,
Title Insurance
REAL PROPERTY UPDATE -
Foreclosure/Mediation: trial court erred in compelling borrowers to produce financial information at mediation not relevant pre-foreclosure judgment – Morejon v. F&M Real, Inc., No. 2D14-2531...more
REAL PROPERTY UPDATE -
Judgment: amount awarded in judgment of foreclosure must be supported by competent evidence and lender not entitled to award of interest or fees when only statement in evidence reflected...more
REAL PROPERTY UPDATE -
Marketable Record Title Act: right-of-way held by Florida Department of Transportation qualifies for right of way exception under MRTA and remainder of property held in fee by Florida Department...more
REAL PROPERTY UPDATE -
Probate/Quit Claim Deeds: trial court correctly ordered personal representative to issue deeds conveying properties to son and mother, subject to life estate held by son – Ciungu v. Bulea, Case...more
Real Property Update:
Deed Restriction: genuine issue of material facts remains concerning whether original parties to deed with restrictions contemplated future unilateral amendments to restrictions that would bind...more
Foreclosure/Statute of Limitations: filing date of amended complaint for purposes of statute of limitations relates back to filing date of original complaint – HSBC Bank USA, National Association as Trustee for Nomura Asset...more
REAL PROPERTY UPDATE -
Sinkhole/Appraisal: reversing non-final order compelling appraisal of sinkhole claim because one is not appropriate under section 631.54(3)(c), Florida Statutes – Fla. Ins. Guar. Ass’n, Inc. v....more
Foreclosure: trial court violated purchaser’s procedural due process rights in setting aside judicial sale of property without giving notice to purchaser. Further, trial court abused its discretion in setting aside judicial...more