Section 553.781, Florida Statutes, provides a measure to require the design professionals and contractors to comply with the Building Code. The Legislature found that accountability for work performed by design professionals and contractors is the key to strong and consistent compliance with the Florida Building Code and, therefore, protection of […]
Featured in the December 2014 Issue Partner’s Perspective: Who Won? Tacky Christmas Attire, Jimerson & Cobb Style J&C Named one of the “50 Fastest Growing Companies in Northeast Florida” J&C Named One of the “Best Places to Work in Northeast Florida” J&C Attorney Now Certified in Georgia New Law Blogs […]
By: James O. Birr, III
Mortgage foreclosures in Florida took an interesting twist in December 2014, due to the recent decision in Deutsche Bank Trust Company, et al. v. Beauvais, et al. This decision effects the time period for bringing foreclosure claims in the event of acceleration and a prior dismissal of a foreclosure lawsuit.
By: Brandon C. Meadows, Esq.
Florida entrepreneurs and businesses must make a decision to form the most appropriate business entity to suit their needs. Whether you are in the early stages of a start-up company, or whether you are a growing business in need of new corporate structure, there are many different considerations that will aid you in selecting the entity form that is right for your business. This article addresses several key considerations and distinctions between sole proprietorships, corporations and limited liability companies. Among those key considerations discussed are ownership requirements, equity allocation, formation and filing fees, governing documents, tax implications, liability, managerial authority, fiduciary duties, raising capital and sharing profits.
When purchasing a business, prospective buyers must take extreme care to ensure they are not also assuming the liabilities of that business. Florida follows the traditional corporate law rule which generally does not impose the liabilities of a predecessor business on a successor business. However, that rule is not absolute and exceptions exist that may result in a purchaser becoming responsible for the debts of the business being acquired. This Blog post will discuss the exceptions to the general rule and provide guidance on avoiding successor liability when purchasing a business.
Featured in the November 2014 Issue Partner’s Perspective: See Why Jimerson & Cobb is Thankful to Live in Jacksonville J&C Named one of the “50 Fastest Growing Companies in Northeast Florida” J&C Named One of the “Best Places to Work in Northeast Florida” J&C Attorney Now Certified in Georgia New […]
Condominium association budgets suffer significantly when unit owners become delinquent in paying assessments. Moreover, the burden for those unpaid assessments falls on the responsible unit owners who must make up the shortfall in the next yearly budget, which often results in higher assessments across the board. For this reason it is important that associations have collections policies in place to pursue unpaid assessments. However, associations must ensure that in their zeal to collect unpaid assessments that accepting partial payments from delinquent unit owners won’t be considered payment in full of the entire debt owed. This blog post will discuss a recent court case which serves as a loud warning to all associations when accepting partial payments from delinquent unit owners.
By: James O. Birr, III
The Florida Statutes provide for licensing of certain contractors performing work in this state. If a contractor does not have the requisite licensing, that contractor will not be able to enforce its contract or lien rights. See Florida Statute Section 489.128. This is a dagger to any person seeking to enforce such an illegal contact. While on its face, this statute appears clear, when a party is in arbitration, such an illegal contact may still be enforceable. The Village at Dolphin Commerce Center, LLC, vs. Construction Service Solutions, LLC.
Many Florida contractors and license holders have a general understanding of the Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board (“CILB”), but like many quasi-judicial bodies, it can remain a mystery to those who practice and appear in front of the CILB. For those who chose to appear pro se in front of […]
By virtue of HB 7015, signed into law by Governor Rick Scott, effective July 1, 2013, Florida state courts will no longer apply the “Frye standard” (Frye v. United States, 293 F. 2d 1013 (D. C. Cir. 1923)) for determining the admissibility of expert testimony. Instead, Florida now follows Section […]