Widerman Malek Law Blog

Loan Modification, Stipulated Judgment, Deed in Lieu,…What do you do?

J. Mason Williams IV

Jun 14th, 2013

Contract Law, Debtor/Creditor, Foreclosure Defense, Landlord/Tenant

Loan Modification, Stipulated Judgment, Cash for Keys,…What do you do?

It is best to talk to an attorney before you ever get to the point where you start falling behind on your mortgage. Before things start to go downhill too much, you might be able to save yourself a lot of future problems by talking with a professional up front. Having said that, if you find yourself at the point where you have already missed a mortgage payment, or several, you likely still have several options available. For the purposes of this article, we will assume that the mortgage is on your Florida homestead property.

Is your agreement binding and enforceable?

J. Mason Williams IV

Jun 7th, 2013

Civil Law General, Civil Litigation, Contract Law, Corporate Law

Is your agreement binding and enforceable?

One question that has to be answered in nearly every breach of contract case is was there a contract or was there an agreement? Although this sounds simple enough, and often times it is, there are several different types of agreements and in Florida, there are several ways to make an agreement, modify an agreement, or make a counter-offer and you may not even realize you have done it. Black’s Law Dictionary has several definitions for a contract, and lists numerous types of contracts, but the basic definition is “[a]n agreement between two or more parties creating obligations that are enforceable or otherwise recognizable at law.”

Construction Liens, Landlords, and Tenants

J. Mason Williams IV

Jun 3rd, 2013

Construction, Contract Law, Landlord/Tenant, Real Estate

Construction Liens, Landlords, and Tenants

A landlord can be liable for a construction lien (or mechanics’ liens) if the landlord fails to take proper precautions or fails to timely respond to a contractor or other lienor. An “owner” must sign the notice of commencement for construction or improvements to begin on a premises.

What is a Certificate of Occupancy and do you need one?

J. Mason Williams IV

May 24th, 2013

Civil Litigation, Construction, Contract Law

What is a Certificate of Occupancy?

A certificate of occupancy or CO in theory is very simple. It is the approval from the local jurisdiction that allows anyone other than construction workers, engineers, etc. to occupy the structure, with some exceptions that this article does not address, such as for industrial structures and projects. This sounds simple enough, but in order to receive a CO, the structure is typically required to be nearly finished, but not necessarily completely finished. It is often times the point at which substantial completion occurs, but case law is clear that they are not necessarily the same and in fact, receiving a CO is certainly strong evidence that substantial completion has occurred, but not necessarily the only evidence needed. For further information about substantial completion, visit my blog on substantial completion.

What is Construction Law?

J. Mason Williams IV

May 17th, 2013

Construction, Contract Law

What is Construction Law?

Construction law is really a form of contract law, but a very complex and technical form of contract law that has many additional twists and turns. It can also include tort claims, as in the case of construction defects or negligence. Construction law for starters involves some form of design or construction project. The parties involved range from owners to architects and engineers to contractors and subcontractors with several parties in between.

They breached the contract so what kind of damages can I get? How about lost profits or loss-of-use?

J. Mason Williams IV

May 9th, 2013

Civil Litigation, Contract Law

By: J. Mason Williams IV It can be difficult to determine what type of monetary damages, if any, a party is entitled to in a breach of contract case. Even if you determine the type of damages, it can be even more difficult to prove the amount as evidenced in a recent case in Hillsborough […]

A Christmas Story Gone Bad

Widerman Malek

Jan 9th, 2013

Intellectual Property, Rights of Publicity

We know the holiday season is over but we just couldn’t help but pass this one along regarding a holiday T.V. classic. It was the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring because we were all intently watching the Warner Bros’ 1983 movie, A Christmas Story, on the television. […]

Substantial Completion: When exactly does it occur?

J. Mason Williams IV

Nov 21st, 2012

Construction

Substantial Completion When an owner decides to build something, he or she usually decides that he or she wants it completely finished, okay the owner always wants it completely finished. But is the owner guaranteed that? Probably not. Now does that mean a contractor can walk away from a job after placing the concrete building […]

What to Do When Contract is Breached

Widerman Malek

Nov 15th, 2012

Civil Law General, Civil Litigation

For those who’ve watched the popular Home and Garden television show, Holmes Inspection, we have all seen homeowners distraught after contractors failed to deliver quality workmanship. On this television show, homeowners seek the help of Mike Holmes and his crew to fix the poor handy work of other contractors who left the homeowners’ home in terrible condition. […]

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