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Fraud, Fraud in the Inducement, the Independent Tort Doctrine, and the Confusion in Florida Courts

Fraud in the context of contractual relationship brings with it a tricky set of issues that even some Florida Courts fail to fully understand and appreciate. Florida Courts acknowledge the long-standing independent tort doctrine which provides which states in relevant part from Indemnity Ins. Co. of North America v. American Aviation, Inc., 891 So.2d 532, 536-537 … Read more

Financially Responsible Officer Designation Not Available for Electrical Companies

(Need a Qualifier Agreement?, Go to our main qualifier agreement page for more infomation, Click Here!) Florida Statute 489.119 permits Construction Companies to designate a Financially Responsible Officer (FRO). This allows a construction company to bifurcate the construction responsibilities from the financial responsibilities of the company. This is used, generally, when a construction company utilizes … Read more

Residential Evictions: 7-Day Notices for Terminating Lease by Landlord for Causes other than Non-Payment of Rent

Terminating a lease for cause/lease breaches other than non-payment of rent is a little more involved than simple non-payment of rent, and this process starts with what is commonly known as the 7-Day Notice. It is called a 7-Day notice since such notice terminates the lease for NON-CURABLE VIOLATIONS within 7 days (not included legal … Read more

Florida Lien Law: Using Lien Statute to Foreclose Worthless Collateral, Why and When?

Recently, the Florida Construction Attorney Articles discussed how tenant improvements can subject a landlord to lien liability (see Article on Florida Lien Law: Liens and Leases), but what can be done when a Fee Simple Owner properly avoids liability through compliance with Fla. Stat. 713.10(2)(a) which states, “[w]hen the lease expressly provides that the interest of the … Read more

Florida DBPR CILB – Finding the Forms to Qualify Business Entities and Additional Entities on DBPR Website

(Need a Qualifier Agreement?, Go to our main qualifier agreement page for more infomation, Click Here!) Go to the Website for DBPR Construction Industry http://www.myfloridalicense.com/DBPR/construction-industry/ 2. Click on the Apply for a License Tab   3. Click on your License type. Choose form to Qualify Business or Qualify Additional Business. Forms Include: For new licensees … Read more

Construction Law: Qualifier/Qualifying Agreement – Qualifying Additional Business Entities – Proof of Supervision

(Need a Qualifier Agreement?, Go to our main qualifier agreement page for more infomation, Click Here!) In recent years, the Construction Industry Licensing Board (“CILB”)has expressed concerns with qualifiers that qualify more than one business entity. The CILB requires that a licensee appear before the board at a monthly meeting in order for the board … Read more

Construction Contracting: Contractors Can Contract for Limited Work Outside Scope of License

Contractors Can Contract for Limited Work Outside Scope of License Florida Statute 489.113 specifically allows for licensed general contractors to contract for a limited scope of work outside of their licensure provided the majority of the work to be performed under the contract is within the licensure. A properly licensed contractor must still perform the work,( … Read more

Florida Lien Law: Liens and Leases

Can lienors that perform work on a construction project under a contract with a lessee (tenant) foreclose on the Owner’s interest? Quick Answer: It depends. The not so quick answer starts with a basic rule and continues with exceptions, all found in Fla. Stat. 713.10. Basic Rule: 713.10 (1) Except as provided in s. 713.12, … Read more

Construction Contracting: Prohibited Practices “Rent-a-License”

An unlicensed handyman pulls a permit using a friends contracting license. This happens all the time. Its unlawful, and most important, when it happens, the homeowner will not have to pay for the work. However, many handymen (read unlicensed person) think they are acting lawfully, and even diligently, by having a properly licensed professional pull the … Read more

Construction Qualifiers: Qualifying More than One Construction Business in Florida

(Need a Qualifier Agreement?, Go to our main qualifier agreement page for more infomation, Click Here!) Can a construction licensee qualify more than 1 construction business? Yes. A qualifier may qualify two or more businesses. You may access the application to qualify an additional business entity online at http://www.myfloridalicense.com/dbpr/construction-industry/. However, the Construction industry licensing board … Read more

Construction Companies: Secondary Qualifying Agent

(Need a Qualifier Agreement?, Go to our main qualifier agreement page for more infomation, Click Here!) What is a Secondary Qualifying Agent? A secondary qualifying agent is responsible only for: 1. The supervision of field work at sites where his or her license was used to obtain the building permit; and 2. Any other work … Read more

Construction Company: Financially Responsible Officers (FRO) Fla. Stat. 489

(Need a Qualifier Agreement?, Go to our main qualifier agreement page for more infomation, Click Here!) What is a Financially Responsible Officer (FRO)? Generally, when a licensed contractor qualifies a construction business entity that qualifier is responsible for both the construction activities of that business and the financial aspects of the business. However, the use … Read more

Do I need to be licensed to perform certain Contracting or Electrical Work?

It is not always clear whether certain scopes of work require a licensed professional to perform, or if they can be performed by a handyman. The DBPR’s Construction Contracting website offers examples of services that require a person with a Florida license to perform.  The list is not all inclusive. Needs a License Does not … Read more

Judgment Attaches to Real Property Only After Recordation of Certified Copy of Judgment

final judgment construction attorney

The normal course of action when a Florida Court (or a South Florida Court at least in my experience) enters a final judgment is for the clerk to record such judgment in the Official Records of the same County. However, this action by the Clerk does not cause such judgment to attach to real property of … Read more

Vacate Default Entered Against Corporation Represented by Non-Attorney

florida construction attorney

It is well recognized that a corporation, unlike a natural person, cannot represent itself and cannot appear in a court of law without an attorney. Nicholson Supply Co. v. First Federal Savings & Loan Association of Hardee County, 184 So.2d 438 (Fla. 2d DCA 1966). Courts have reflexively applied this common law rule prohibiting the … Read more

Proving Damages for Substantially Completed Construction Projects

subcontractor unjust enrichment

Where a building contractor has substantially performed a contract between the parties, the contractor is entitled to be paid the full contract price diminished only by damages which the owner has suffered as the result of such breaches of the contract as may be established by competent evidence. See Fleming v. URDL’s Waterfall Creation, Inc., … Read more

SLIP & FALL in Florida: How to prove a Slip & Fall Negligence case in Florida?

Workers Compensation

All premises owners owe a duty to their invitees to exercise reasonable care to maintain their premises in a safe condition. See, e.g., Everett v. Restaurant & Catering Corp., 738 So.2d 1015, 1016 (Fla. 2d DCA 1999). Despite this general proposition, when a person slips and falls on a transitory foreign substance, the rule has … Read more

Criminal Defense: State to Produce Witnesses (or Good Address) Prior to Trial

Florida Law Quick Answers

“The law requires that each defendant have sufficient time to prepare a defense, including the opportunity to utilize available procedural discovery rules provided for that purpose. Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.220(a) (1)(i) requires the prosecution to disclose to defense counsel the “names and addresses of all persons known to the prosecutor to have information … Read more