On November 27, 2023, the New York State Department of Financial Services (“DFS”) and First American Title Insurance Company (“First American”) entered into a consent order1 that resolved litigation over First American’s...more
Late this summer the New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS) announced its first enforcement action since the cybersecurity rules went into effect in March 2017. The action was brought against First American Title...more
On July 21, 2020, the New York Department of Financial Services (“DFS”) filed its first enforcement action under New York’s Cybersecurity Requirements for Financial Services Companies, 23 N.Y.C.R.R. Part 500 (“Reg 500”). Reg...more
Real Property Update - Condo Termination / Mandatory Arbitration: Unit owner could not pursue claims relating to condo termination for failure to comply with Florida Statutes section 718.117(16), which required unit...more
The New York State Department of Financial Services (“NYDFS”) has announced its first enforcement action of NYDFS’ Cybersecurity Regulation, Part 500 of Title 23 (“Cybersecurity Regulation”) against First American Title...more
On July 21, 2020, the New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS) announced that it had filed its first enforcement action under 23 NYCRR 500 (the “Cybersecurity Regulation”) against First American Title Insurance (the...more
Real Property Update - Foreclosure / Condition Precedent: Borrower who raises an affirmative defense, such as failure of conditions precedent, bears the burden of proving that affirmative defense even if lender's complaint...more
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
Real Property Update - Fraudulent Transfer: Real property that was worth less than mortgage encumbering it was not an asset per the plain language of section 726.102(2) and, therefore, could not support fraudulent transfer...more
Real Property Update - Foreclosure / Bankruptcy / Surrender: borrower cannot challenge judgment of foreclosure entered upon judicial notice of his statement of intention to surrender the property and order of discharge...more
Fiat Chrysler and struggling post-Ghosn French automaker Renault are in talks to complete a merger of equals that could “reshape the global automobile industry.” If a deal is reached the combined company would be the third...more
Real Property Update - Ad Valorem Taxes: in a matter of first impression, county's immunity from taxation does not extend extraterritorially to property it owns in another Florida county - Joiner v. Pinellas Cnty., Fla.,...more
Real Property Update - Foreclosure / Attorneys' Fees: borrower not entitled to attorneys' fees for prevailing on lender's claim for reformation of mortgage, where lender prevailed on claim of foreclosure without...more
Financial Services Update - FDCPA / definition of "debt collector": law firm carrying out a nonjudicial foreclosure action not a debt collector because the primary definition of a "debt collector" under sec. 1692a does not...more
Financial Services Update - FDCPA: no liability for a debt collector that provides the name of the hospital, the account number, patient name, date of service, and amount of debt, but who fails to include the word "creditor"...more
REAL PROPERTY UPDATE - Foreclosure/Statute of Limitations & Res Judicata: trial court erred in finding that bank's foreclosure action was barred by statute of limitations and res judicata - U.S. Bank Nat'l Ass'n, etc. v....more
REAL PROPERTY UPDATE - Foreclosure/Standing: bank's allegation in complaint that it acquired loan and possessed both legal and beneficial interest in note and mortgage prior to filing complaint, coupled with the subsequent...more
REAL PROPERTY UPDATE - Summary Judgment: incorporation of an affirmative defense by referencing “previously filed pleadings” does not obviate movant’s obligation to comply with particularity requirements mandated by rule...more
REAL PROPERTY UPDATE - Lis Pendens: lawsuit to foreclose mortgage on real property is an action "founded on a duly recorded instrument" - National American Home, LLC v Deutsche Bank Nat. Trust Co., Case No. 4D17-2614 (Fla....more
REAL PROPERTY UPDATE - Standing/Foreclosure: pursuant to Florida Rule of Procedure 1.260, the assignee of a note during pendency of a foreclosure acquires standing of original plaintiff lender - Spicer v Ocwen Loan...more
REAL PROPERTY UPDATE - Receiver/Barton Doctrine: individual could not bring negligence action against discharged receiver of commercial property until individual first obtained leave to do so from the court that appointed...more
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
REAL PROPERTY UPDATE - Foreclosure/Redemption: foreclosure sale conducted without knowledge of bankruptcy affirmed, but trial court orders denying mortgagor opportunity to redeem property before certificate of sale actually...more