Doing Business in Florida Blog

New Fannie Mae Requirements for Condominium and Co-Op Projects

January 28, 2022
Jeffrey R. Margolis  |  Condominiums, Condominiums Association

Following the tragic collapse of the Champlain Tower South Condominium and the resulting concerns over buildings with aging infrastructure, Fannie Mae issued new temporary eligibility requirements for loans secured by units in condominiums or co-op projects with five or more units and insured by Fannie Mae (“Loans”). The temporary requirements became effective as of January 1, 2022, and apply to Loans purchased on or after January 1, 2022, and to Loans delivered into MBS pools with issue dates on or after January 1, 2022.

5 Things You Should Know About the Proposed Revisions to Florida's Construction Defect Statute

January 20, 2022
Jeffrey S. Wertman  |  Construction Defects Claims

A new bill making its way through the Florida Legislature, SB 736, if enacted into law, will significantly affect future construction defect claims

Client Alert: Insurers Continue to Scrutinize ACV/RCV Provisions

January 19, 2022
Insurance, ACV Provisions, RCV Provisions

A Primer on Florida’s Construction Lien Law

September 22, 2021
William O. Diab  |  Construction Litigation, Construction Law

For those construction industry players who need a refresher on an evolving area of law, or for those new to the Sunshine State, the following article serves as a primer on some of the commonly faced issues by property owners and lienors, as well as best practices to maximize your compliance with the statute.

Florida Supreme Court Watch: Sanders v. State Farm

September 3, 2021
Samuel Gilot

Looming Infrastructure Bill Spotlights Recent Amendment to Florida's Public Bonding Law for Construction Projects

August 23, 2021
Adam E. Richards  |  American Jobs Plan, Infrastructure Task Force, Infrastructure Bill

Florida’s fraudulent lien law has been on the books for well over a decade. The law simultaneously created a powerful tool for responding to construction liens while intensifying the scrutiny of lienors and the amounts liened for. Today, a host of caselaw exists to assist the industry in navigating the legal minefield that comes with enforcing construction liens in the Sunshine State. Just two years ago, and perhaps armed with some prescience, the legislature amended Chapter 255, Florida Statutes, in order to create a similar statutory framework for fraudulent bond claims on public projects. Since then, not one single opinion can be found in connection with the new language in Section 255.05(2)(a)(2), Florida Statutes. Yet, with the substantial increase in public construction work, more bond claims will inevitably follow.

The American Jobs Plan: Florida Transit and Transportation

August 12, 2021
Colin M. Roopnarine  |  Infrastructure Task Force, Infrastructure Bill, American Jobs Plan

On August 8, 2021, the Senate voted to move President Biden’s $1 trillion infrastructure bill, the “American Jobs Plan” (“Jobs Plan”), forward with a final vote coming as soon as August 9, 2021. It will then move to the House. Political maneuvering aside, a vital component of the Bill is the investment in transportation, which could exceed $621 billion over an eight-year timeframe. This investment would include public transit, passenger rail systems, improvements of services, and a tremendous backlog of road, highway, bridge and other repairs.

Client Alert: Medical Cannabis - Buyer Beware!

August 11, 2021
Colin M. Roopnarine  |  Medical Cannabis

With signs in the State of Florida all pointing to a possible resumption of medical cannabis licensing (the first of which was rulemaking involving the black farmers and the Pigford case), many businesses and entrepreneurs are once again seeking to capitalize on the financial potential of the Florida market. But…buyer beware!

Cyptocurrency, ATM’s, and You

August 9, 2021
Colin M. Roopnarine  |  Cryptocurrency, Government and Regulatory

Prior to 2018, the State of Florida Office of Financial Regulation, and partially in response to the rise in popularity of crypto currencies and curiously enough, ATM’s to transact business, often required the crypto currency business to obtain a Money Transmitter License. 

Benefits of Having an eDiscovery Department in a Law Firm

July 27, 2021
Anely M. Nunez and Jessie G. Torres  |  eDiscovery

About 20 years ago, an electronic revolution forced litigators to assess how to handle the growing data volumes leading to a new niche in the legal industry called eDiscovery. Particularly over the last five years, data has been growing exponentially as people create enormous amounts of electronic information. Although only a small percentage of data is stored into a subsequent year, the installed base of storage capacity, according to Statista, “is forecast to increase, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 19.2 percent over the forecast period from 2020 to 2025.” 

Berger Singerman’s 2021 Annual Hurricane Season Survey

June 25, 2021
Hurricane Preparedness Week , Atlantic Hurricane Season, Insurance, Hurricane Insurance Claims

Berger Singerman’s 2021 Annual Hurricane Season Survey polled more than 1,800 business owners and residents in South Florida. The results are alarming and prove that many are not ready to brace the season.
 

Hung Out to Dry: Property Insurance Cancellation

June 24, 2021
Gina Clausen Lozier  |  Hurricane Preparedness, Atlantic Hurricane Season, Policy Cancellation

Following the recent wave of policy cancellations and non-renewals, many of Florida’s property owners are left wondering whether cancellation of their policy is imminent and, if so, how long will they have to find new insurance. The cancellation of an insurance policy always a concerns but even more time-sensitive during hurricane season. Fortunately, the cancellation of certain property insurance policies during a hurricane event is governed by Florida Statute Section 627.4133(2)(d), which outlines the various requirements and time frames Florida’s insurers must follow.