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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

Personal Liability for Fraudulent Lien or Slander of Title for Lien filed on Behalf of Business, Not So Fast.

Executing a lien on behalf of the contracting entity does not create individual liability. See BRUCE TANSEY CUSTOM CARPENTRY, INC. v GOODMAN , 33 So.3d 70, (Fla. 2nd DCA 2010), “Even if the complaint had alleged that Tansey was individually liable, the evidence did not support individual liability where Custom Carpentry was the lienor and Tansey signed … Read more

Andrew Douglas P.A. Successfully Defends Felony Unlicensed Contracting Charge for Client

WESTON, FLORIDA – (July, 5, 2018) Andrew Douglas, P.A., is pleased to announce that it has successfully defended its client against a felony criminal charge of Unlicensed Contracting During a Declared State of Emergency (Engage in Contracting Violation During Existence of State of Emergency.) The State Attorney’s Office for the 15th Judicial Circuit, in and … 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

Residential Evictions in Florida: Step 1 – The 3-Day Notice

What is the 3-day Notice?  It is formally titled the NOTICE FROM LANDLORD TO TENANT–TERMINATION FOR FAILURE TO PAY RENT, but pursuant to statute it provides 3 (three) days for the tenant to pay the rent owed. Accordingly, it is commonly referred to as the 3(THREE) DAY NOTICE. The 3-day notice shall contain a statement … 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