The post Joe Hernandez and Drew Demers Present on Opportunity Zones at Tower Club Real Estate Luncheon appeared first on Weiss Serota Helfman Cole + Bierman.

Partner Alan Gabriel, who is President of the Fort Lauderdale Forum, was happy to sponsor and attend the Fort Lauderdale Forum’s “Is the Wave Streetcar the “Future” Transportation Answer?” event at Broward College. 

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Partner Laura Wendell obtained a significant victory for Firm client, Lauderdale-By-The-Sea and all other municipalities dealing with abandoned or unmaintained foreclosure property. The case below was handled by Partner Eric Hockman, and he assisted in the appeal.  On August 24, 2016, the Fourth District Court of Appeal affirmed their trial court success in Ober v. Lauderdale-By-The-Sea.  In doing so, the court of appeal addressed a gap in Florida law concerning the validity of liens, including municipal code enforcement liens, which accrue during the period between a final judgment of foreclosure and a judicial sale of the property.  The court held that code enforcement liens that arise after a final judgment of foreclosure, but before the sale of property, are valid and enforceable.  In other words, the court has made it clear that foreclosing lenders are not immune from the consequences of failing to comply with municipal codes.  If they choose to delay selling the property following a foreclosure judgment, their security interests are subject to code enforcement and other liens.  The win in the appellate court allows Lauderdale-By-The-Sea to pursue its judgment for $345,000, plus interest and attorneys’ fees, by selling the property at a judicial sale.  Member Susan Trevarthen acts as Town Attorney for Lauderdale-By-The-Sea and led the team, which also included Partner Alan Gabriel who developed a strong record in the Town’s code enforcement proceedings.

The post Fourth District Court of Appeal Upholds Viability of Post-Judgement Liens appeared first on Weiss Serota Helfman Cole + Bierman.

Just this week, the City Council for Marco Island voted to re-hire the Firm as City Attorney.  Weiss Serota Helfman served as City Attorney in Marco Island from 2008-2011, with Alan Gabriel sitting as the City Attorney.  After the brief hiatus, Marco Island returned to the Firm, and Alan Gabriel will once again sit as the City Attorney.

Marco Island, a popular tourist destination, is a lovely municipality on the West Coast of Florida.  It is home to approximately 17,000 full time residents. 

Managing director Jamie Cole expressed his congratulations to the team responsible for bringing Marco Island back to the firm.  Alan Gabriel took the reins with a dedicated group behind him including Richard Weiss, Brett Schneider, Dan Abbott, Anthony Soroka, and Paul Gougleman. 

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