Title Insurance and Your Transaction
In its 2020 National Strategy for Combating Terrorist and Other Illicit Financing (“2020 Strategy”), the U.S. Department of Treasury (“Treasury”) has laid out its AML and money laundering enforcement priorities. Last week, we...more
Real Property Update - Foreclosure / Rehearing: Order denying rehearing on summary judgment motion and denying continuance affirmed where (1) affidavit in support of rehearing failed to disclose any genuine issue of...more
Real Property Update - Foreclosure / Notice: Mail log sufficient evidence to establish mailing of notice to borrower of default and possibility of foreclosure – Stacknik v. U.S. Bank, N.A., No. 2D18-2156 (Fla. 2d DCA Nov....more
Breaking from its recent practice of making public announcements about Geographic Targeting Orders, the Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) last month quietly extended its real estate GTOs for...more
REAL PROPERTY UPDATE FINANCIAL SERVICES UPDATE TITLE INSURANCE UPDATE - Foreclosure: witness may testify as to business records of another company so long as that witness can lay proper foundation of personal knowledge...more
REAL PROPERTY UPDATE - Foreclosure/Deficiency Judgment: where a foreclosing bank acquires in rem jurisdiction via service by publication in underlying foreclosure action, bank may still seek personal service over an...more
FinCEN announced today that it is renewing the existing Geographical Targeting Orders (GTOs) issued in July 2016 that require all title insurance companies to identify and report on the natural persons behind shell companies...more
REAL PROPERTY UPDATE - Foreclosure: where foreclosing bank, who purchased debt from original mortgagee, failed to establish standing to enforce lost note “through evidence of a valid assignment, proof of purchase of the...more
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
By changing the way that information is digitally stored and exchanged, blockchain technology will alter the way real estate is recorded, transferred, financed and managed globally. Bitcoin, the popular virtual currency...more
REAL PROPERTY UPDATE - Settlement/Waiver: borrowers permitted to raise affirmative defenses and counterclaims against lender where subject Loan Modification Agreement failed to include waiver of claims, affirmative...more
REAL PROPERTY UPDATE - Foreclosure/Constitutional Challenge: record title owner’s argument that Florida Statutes section 702.035, governing “Legal notice concerning foreclosure proceedings,” is an unconstitutional...more
REAL PROPERTY UPDATE - Foreclosure/Standing: foreclosing bank did not establish standing where it failed to submit evidence it was in possession of original note with blank endorsement at time of filing of foreclosure...more
REAL PROPERTY UPDATE - - Foreclosure/Standing/Hearsay: copy of a note with undated allonge containing blank endorsement sufficient to establish standing as a matter of law, even though bank did not have formal...more
REAL PROPERTY UPDATE - Foreclosure/Bankruptcy Stay: because borrower’s notice of appeal was filed during pendency of bankruptcy stay it was a nullity, and appellate court lacked jurisdiction to consider appeal –Hewett v....more
REAL PROPERTY UPDATE - Adverse Possession: appellant entitled to judgment quieting title in her favor because appellant’s predecessor in title had adversely possessed disputed strip of land by having it enclosed by a...more
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
BB Syndication Services, Inc. v. First American Title Ins. Co., 785 F.3d 825 (7th Cir. 2015) – A construction lender sued a title insurance company seeking defense and indemnification in connection with claims in a...more
Foreclosure: non-borrower owner of real property as tenants-in-common with borrower not required to sign mortgage for borrower to encumber only his interest in the property and non-borrower’s signature on mortgage reflected...more
REAL PROPERTY UPDATE - Eviction/Summary Judgment: Error to grant summary judgment where plaintiff failed to refute multiple affirmative defenses including an assertion that the eviction would cause an inequitable...more
REAL PROPERTY UPDATE: Tax Deed Sale/Due Process: after certified letter notifying property owner of tax deed sale returned unopened and unclaimed, due process required clerk of court take reasonable steps to notify...more