Bennetts Solicitors, Attorneys & Notaries has over a century of experience working in the United Kingdom with a particular focus in employment, agriculture, commercial and business law, family law and contentious trust and probate matters.

Bennetts Solicitors, Attorneys & Notaries has two office locations in the United Kingdom, Wrington, Bristol and Pentwyn, Cardiff. For more information about Bennetts Solicitors, Attorneys & Notaries, visit their website at www.bennettlaw.co.uk.

Bennetts also practices law in Florida and New York, acting for British clients.

Contacts

Alan Reed was admitted as a Solicitor in 1970 when he joined Bennetts Solicitors, Attorneys & Notaries and when he was awarded the Hampshire Law Prize. Alan sat as a Deputy District Judge for some 22 years and until 2005. He focuses in commercial litigation and in particular company and partnership disputes, minority shareholders actions and employment law.

Alan has acted for major public companies and local authorities as well as substantial owner managed businesses. He is a member of the Law Society, the Society for Computers and Law and the Employment Lawyers Association.

Hannah Wallington qualified with Bennetts in July 2007 and she now works primarily in commercial litigation. Hannah is also an American attorney licensed to practice law in the state of New York.

During her time training with Bennetts and since qualifying, Hannah has developed a good understanding of the litigation and dispute resolution process and has experience in Court proceedings and Mediation. Hannah advises and assists in international litigation arising in the United States and particularly in New York. Hannah also undertakes non-contentious corporate work and is able to advice on the incorporation of limited companies. She is particularly interested in insolvency and bankruptcy actions.

Hannah is a member of the Bristol Law Society.

Очень часто русскоговорящие туристы, бизнесмены и люди временно проживающие или путешествующие по Aмерике, обращаются к нам с вопросами о травмах, которые они получили в этой стране. В большинстве таких случаев, эти лица не понимают как получить возмещение за свои повреждения и как подать исковое заявление в суд чтобы возместить свой ущерб. Во многих случаях эти люди пытались получить консультацию у Aмериканских адвокатов, но к сожалению очень часто, из за языкового или культурного барьера, эти адвокаты не могли им помочь. Те граждане, которые по счастливому случаю нашли и обратились за помощью в нашу фирму, были очень благодарны этому. В нашей фирме, сотрудники свободно владеют и общаются с клиентами на русском языке и это позволяет нам помогать многим русскоязычным клиентам.

В случаях травм и повреждений, наша фирма получает оплату с клиентов по результату, то есть после и только в случае выигрыша дела. Окончательная оплата регулируется действующим контрактом и осуществляется только в случае благоприятного результата для вас. И ещё очень важно заметить, что наша фирма может заниматься и везти ваше судебное дело не только во Флориде, но и во многих других штатах. Наши адвокаты имеют лицензию во многих штатах страны, и даже если ваше дело имеет отношение к штату, где у нас нету лицензии, мы имеем обширную сеть компетентных адвокатов в этих штатах, к которым мы можем обратиться за помощью в ведение вашего дела. В тех случаях, когда нам понадобится вовлечь другую фирму, мы будем продолжать участвовать в вашем деле, так как мы продолжим работать напрямую с вами и для вас. Мы понимаем как это важно чтобы вы могли эффективно общаться с вашим адвокатом и поэтому, мы всегда будем активно участвовать в вашем деле до самого его завершения. В таких случаях, даже если нам придется задействовать другую фирму, это не в коем образе не поменяет наши с вами условия об оплате за услуги нашей фирмы, так как задействование другой фирмы не будет вами оплачиваться. И в итоге, две фирмы будут работать над вашим делом без какой либо дополнительной платы, и при этом у вас будет преимущество в том что вас будет представлять адвокат, который может общаться с вами и обсуждать статус вашего дела на родном русском языке.

По многим причинам такое участие является очень ценным.  Мы находим что многие Американские адвокаты не знакомы с системой медицинского обслуживания в России и странах СНГ, и поэтому они не знают  как получить важные подтвердительные документы для процесса возмещения ущерба в Cоединенных Штатах.

Очень часто когда приходится oпрашивать русскоязычных свидетелей о происшедшем несчастном случае или просить их о содействие и кооперации в легальном процессе, они относятся с недоверием к адвокатaм и сотрудникам не говорящим по русски.  А вот в опыте работы нашей фирмы, благодаря тому что наши сотрудники говорят по русски, мы испытываем большой успех в наших отношениях с русскоязычными свидетелями, которые имеют ценную информацию и документацию нужные как доказательства в судебном процессе по возмещению убытков в Cоединенных Штатах.  Наши русскоязычные адвокаты и работники помогают не только нашим клиентам, но и тем третьим лицам, которые не знакомы с системой законодательства в Соединенных Штатах.  Благодаря усилиям, навыку и опыту работы нашей фирмы, наши клиенты получают справедливое решение их дел.

В настоящее время, наша фирма работает над судебными делами по всей стране напрямую или в сотрудничестве с другими лидирующими фирмами страны.  Наш опыт и наши знания законодательства и судебной системы в сочетании с пониманием русского языка и культуры позволяет нам обеспечить наших русскоязычных клиентов с таким уровнем обслуживания, который в большинстве случаев просто недоступен для типичных Американских адвокатов.  Благодаря нашей репутации, знании языка и понимании проблем затрагивающих русскоязычное население, многие американские фирмы с разных концов страны обращаются к Урбан, Тиер, Федерер и Джексон с вопросами касающимися русскоязычных клиентов.   Например, в нескольких случаях мы предоставили помощь таким фирмам по вопросам касающимся Гаагской конвенции и вручении судебных документов по гражданским делам по травмам, ущербам, и несчастным случаям.  Мы всегда готовы помочь и ответить на вопросы русскоязычных людей, которым нужна наша помощь.

Кроме судебных дел по травмам, несчастным случаям и телесным повреждениям, мы также занимаемся очень многими другими вопросами гражданско-правового характера.  Очень часто эти дела ведутся на почасовой основе оплаты.  Наша команда по судебным процессам проводит очень много разных дел с эффективным результатом для наших русскоязычных клиентов и мы всегда готовы обсудить с вами как найти наиболее лучший и индивидуальный подход к вашему делу.  Так как мы имеeм офис еще и в Мюнхене, мы с такой же энергией и профессионализмом оказываем услуги русскоязычным клиентам в Германии.

Вы можете в любое время связаться с нами, рассказать подробности вашего дела и мы постараемся вам помочь.

Urban Thier Federer & Jackson, P.A., now represents over 300 units (of which 277 have been fully concluded) of the 1,588 units that make up the Grande Palisades (890 total units, with 304 in C1 and 293 each in C2 and C3), Avalon Resort (349 planned units) and Magnolia Woods (349 planned units) phases of the Lake Austin Reserve development. Each of Urban Thier Federer & Jackson, P.A.’s purchaser clients in the Lake Austin Reserve development signed an Agreement for Sale (in Grande Palisades purchasers also signed a second Agreement for Sale in 2007) with Lake Austin Properties I, Ltd., for the purchase of a condominium hotel unit.

If you entered into an Agreement for Sale with Lake Austin Properties I, Ltd., you should be aware that 10 percent of your purchase price in deposits paid was transferred by Maesbury Homes Inc. (an affiliate of Lake Austin Properties I, Ltd.) to Vanguard Title, LLC, as escrow agent, which amount is now being held by the successor escrow agent, Extensor Capital Investment Partners II, LLC. You should also be aware that pursuant to the terms of the Agreement for Sale, any deposit payment in excess of 10 percent of the Agreement for Sale purchase price has probably been utilized by Lake Austin Properties I, Ltd. However, at least 10 percent of the purchase price in deposits should still be in the escrow account.

The Lake Austin Reserve units were marketed primarily by Instant Access Properties (“IAP”), which went into liquidation/bankruptcy in 2008. Around the same time IAP Global emerged to pick up the marketing role. Now IAP Global has gone into liquidation/bankruptcy and appears to be directing purchasers to an entity by the name of International Progressions.

Grande Palisades purchasers have been receiving emails from a Lake Austin Reserve Grande Palisades purchaser under the name The Affinity Partnership Ltd., which appears to be a UK based for profit entity that is working for or with Lake Austin Properties I, Ltd., and/or Leighton Hall Properties, LLC, claiming to speak on behalf of Lake Austin Properties I, Ltd. According to the email, Lake Austin Properties I, Ltd., is seeking to transfer its contract/Agreement for Sale rights to a new entity named Leighton Hall Properties, LLC, which also appears to be a UK based entity. The email also claims that Lake Austin Properties I, Ltd., is willing to return 2/3 (66.66 percent) of Grande Palisades purchaser’s remaining escrow deposit if they no longer want to proceed and do not want to transfer their rights to Leighton Hall Properties, LLC. All Lake Austin Reserve purchasers in the Grande Palisades, Avalon and Magnolia Woods phases should weigh their rights and options, and to consult an independent attorney of their own choosing, before making any final decision. Urban Thier Federer & Jackson, P.A. has absolutely no connection with Fuel, Fuel Investments, IAP, IAP Global, Affinity Partnership, Ltd., Lake Austin Properies I, Ltd., or any other entity or law firm related to this matter.

If the email from The Affinity Partnership Ltd. is accurate and truthful, then it appears that Lake Austin is seeking to resolve Grande Palisades purchasers’ rights by returning 2/3 (66.66 percent) of the remaining escrow funds consisting of 10 percent of each Grande Palisades purchaser’s Agreement for Sale purchase price. If those same Grande Palisades purchasers were to retain a law firm to represent their interests, such as Urban Thier Federer & Jackson, P.A., and recovered the full 10 percent of the purchase price still in escrow via a 33 percent contingency fee Legal Representation Agreement, purchasers would have the same result of recovering 2/3 (actually purchasers would recover 67 versus 66.66 percent) of the remaining 10 percent of the purchase price still in escrow.

Those purchasers would essentially have a licensed Florida attorney at no extra cost to:

1) represent them and their interests,
2) ensure that any resolution is fair, results in a complete release from the Agreement for Sale contractual liability and is not part of a larger scheme,
3) ensure that all funds are received, accounted for and transferred to the purchaser, and
4) if the purchaser prefers, strive to recover a final judgment in order to allow the recovery of additional funds in the event that Lake Austin Properties I, Ltd., is solvent and able to pay additional amounts.

Understandably, Lake Austin Properties I, Ltd., would like to retain another 1/3 of each Grande Palisades purchaser’s deposit after having already used the deposits paid in excess of 10 percent of the Agreement for Sale purchase price. Also, understandably, Lake Austin Properties I, Ltd., would like to transfer the benefits of each Grande Palisades Agreement for Sale to a new entity such as Leighton Hall Properties, LLC, as part of a restructuring scheme. Again, we encourage you to consult with this law firm or another of your independent selection before taking any action.

It may also be of interest to you that Lake Austin Properties I, Ltd., appears to be attempting to distance itself from IAP/IAP Global/International Progressions. Paul Oxley and/or Lindsay Oxley, the principals of GFD, Inc., which is the general partner of Lake Austin Properties I, Ltd., the Lake Austin Reserve developer, have contacted a number of Lake Austin Reserve purchasers represented by Urban Thier Federer & Jackson, P.A., and asked them not to continue with litigation because they believe that construction will start up again in the near future. The fact that the development, or at least the Grande Palisades phase of the Lake Austin Reserve development, may ultimately be completed, in our opinion, has little or no bearing on a purchaser’s decision as to whether or not to purchase a unit. Even if the Lake Austin Reserve was completed tomorrow, we sincerely believe that the value of units in an overbuilt and post Florida real estate bubble market is still a mere fraction of the contracted for price. Additionally, we believe that the Avalon and Magnolia Woods phases may never be built. We believe that it is clear that Mr. and Mrs. Oxley would like purchasers to take no legal action, honor their contractual obligations, and ultimately pay the contracted for purchase price. This is how Lake Austin Properties I, Ltd., and its related individuals and/or entities can make money on the Lake Austin Reserve development.

However, we also believe that the primary business/market valuation of a commercial unit, such as a condominium hotel, is a function of the monthly net revenue or profit that the unit can generate. Unfortunately, regardless of other factors, the net revenue less the carrying costs is the relevant analysis. The carrying costs would include property taxes, insurance, association fees, repairs and (if financed) principal and interest payments. We believe that there is a very large over supply of condominium hotel units in the Disney corridor/surrounding area and do not see any significant revenue generation in the foreseeable future.

IAP Global has previously gone on record to state that the rental guarantee agreements will not be honored. In at least one Maesbury Homes, Inc., development the rental guarantees were also not fully honored (the Oxleys are principals of Maesbury Homes, Inc., and GFD, Inc., which is the general partner of Lake Austin Properties I, Ltd.). Once Lake Austin Properties I, Ltd. or its successor has sold the units, it is out of the equation.

Finally, Lake Austin Properties I, Ltd., appears to remain silent regarding the pending foreclosure lawsuit filed in October 2009 by the entity that holds the principal mortgage on the unsold land and buildings that make up the Lake Austin Reserve. On October 9, 2009, Beal Bank Nevada filed a foreclosure lawsuit against Lake Austin Properties I, Ltd., GFD, Inc., Paul Oxley and others, seeking over $150,000,000.00 and seeking to foreclose and to have a receiver take over the Lake Austin Reserve. The case, case number 2009-CA-031936, is pending in state court in Florida’s Ninth Judicial Circuit in and for Orange County, Florida.

The Florida Bar, which regulates all attorneys who are licensed to practice law in the State of Florida, provides strict guidelines which prohibit us from referring to past successes or results obtained for other purchasers in this or other developments. However, we can provide you with this and other information in response to any inquiry. Accordingly, we encourage you to contact us via the “Contact Us” page and we will promptly respond with additional information.

We encourage all purchasers to interview any attorney that they may be contemplating to retain and to ask that attorney for their experience, record in this area of the law, number of cases taken to final judgment, number of cases affirmed on appeal, number of attorneys in the firm, firm staff, resources, etc. We sincerely believe that purchasers should not retain an attorney or law firm until they are confident that 1) the law firm has the experience and resources to represent their best interest and 2) they fully understand the law firm’s litigation strategy.

With attorneys in Orlando, Florida, and Munich, Germany, Urban Thier Federer & Jackson, P.A. continues to assist buyers throughout the United States and European Union countries who are seeking to terminate their pre-construction purchase agreements. Most cases can be handled on a contingency fee basis (client is responsible for costs).

We encourage you to explore our websites – www.urbanthier.com (United States office) and www.urbanthier.de (German office) to learn more about Urban Thier Federer & Jackson, P.A., Urban Thier Federer & Jackson, Rechtsanwälte, and their attorneys and practice areas. Urban Thier Federer & Jackson, P.A.’s representation of buyers includes litigation of cases in state court, federal court and arbitration proceedings. We encourage you to become informed of your rights and options. You should also ensure that any law firm you consult or retain to represent you has the experience, resources and ability to take your case through trial and appellate courts, if necessary.

Please note that Urban Thier Federer & Jackson, P.A. does not represent you and cannot take any action on your behalf unless and until you enter into a formal written Legal Representation Agreement.

Intellectual Property Law matters in the areas of patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, and technology transfer. He is a registered patent attorney with the United States Patent and Trademark Office and concentrates in domestic and international patent, trademark, and copyright protection, valuation, licensing, and infringement; trade secret protection and enforcement; and technology transfer negotiation and enforcement; intellectual property portfolio management; and intellectual property strategies in business transactions. He has experience writing and prosecuting patent applications in many technology areas, including mechanical, aerospace, electrical, propulsion, materials, optical, medical devices, medical procedures, computer software, and business methods.

Mr. Menke is a member of the Florida Bar, Bar of the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, and the Bar of the United States Air Force Court of Criminal Appeals.

For more information please contact us.

The law firm of Urban Thier Federer & Jackson, P.A., continues to represent clients throughout the United States and Europe who wish to terminate their pre-construction contracts and purchase agreements for condominiums and homes located in the Central Florida area and to receive back their deposits. The firm is most active in the Greater Orlando area (throughout Orange and Osceola County, Florida).

Legal Basis for Termination

The primary causes of action utilized by Urban Thier Federer & Jackson, P.A., are 15 U.S.C.  §§ 1701-1720, the Interstate Land Sales Full Disclosure Act (also known as ILSA or ILSFDA), Florida Statutes Chapters 718 and 720, breach of contract and, depending on each buyers’ potential circumstances, other claims.

Interstate Land Sales Full Disclosure Act

The Interstate Land Sales Full Disclosure Act, 15 U.S.C. §§ 1701 et. seq., is federal law that was originally enacted in 1968 as an antifraud statute utilizing disclosure as its primary tool to protect purchasers. ILSFDA remains a viable cause of action and is enforced by the courts to allow purchasers to terminate their pre-construction contracts. However, it is vital that purchasers act in a timely manner because ILSFDA has a strict statute of limitations/time limit that bars most claims three years (and rescission claims two years) after the date that the purchaser signs the pre-construction contract or purchase agreement. Once the applicable time period passes, a purchaser may be barred from bringing a claim under ILSFDA.

Florida Statutes Chapter 718 (Florida Condominium Act) and 720

Florida Statutes Chapters 718 (for condominium developments) and 720 (for housing developments with a homeowners association) are Florida laws that require certain written disclosures of rights within the contract or purchase agreement.  Pursuant to Florida Statutes § 718.202, developers/sellers are required to maintain purchaser deposits in separate escrow accounts under the control of an escrow agent and there are strict legal requirements for the treatment and release of purchaser deposit funds.  Pursuant to Florida Statutes § 718.503, developers/sellers are required to disclose certain information to purchasers both at the time of signing of the contract or purchase agreement (including, but not limited to, condominium and homeowners association documents and a disclosure summary listing fees, assessments and other information) and upon making any material and adverse changes to the development.  Pursuant to Florida Statutes § 718.506, purchasers may be entitled to rescind the contract if they reasonably relied upon any material information in any condominium, promotional or other documents that is materially false or misleading.  The time limits/statutes of limitations on such claims can be as short as 15 days from the date that the purchaser receives a material and adverse change from the developer to four (4) years from the date of the violation.

15 U.S.C. § 77 (Securities Act of 1933) and Florida Statutes Chapter 517 (Florida Securities and Investor Protection Act)

For those with pre-construction contracts or purchase agreements for the purchase of condominium units that constitute condominium hotels (a/k/a condo hotel – not fractional or timeshare ownership), the firm has been filing lawsuits that include counts for federal and state securities law violations. Under most condo hotel pre-construction contracts or purchase agreements the purchaser’s use of the unit as a personal residence is subject to such limitations as use for no more than 179 days per year, use only when not booked under the rental program, and other limitations. As a result, the purchaser may no longer be simply purchasing a condominium unit.

The purchaser may instead (or in addition to being deemed to be purchasing a condominium unit) be entering into what the securities laws characterize as an “investment contract” subject to both federal and Florida securities laws. Some of the basic elements of a securities law claim include an investment of money, with an expectation of profit, a return on investment that is dependent on the efforts of another and a risk of loss. The securities laws have strict statutes of limitations/time periods within which a lawsuit must be started.  Some of the time bars are as short as one year from the date that the purchaser knew or should have known (actual or constructive notice) that securities laws may have been violated.

Breach of Contract

Most pre-construction contracts or purchase agreements contain terms, conditions and language intended to bring the developer/seller in compliance with the above and other statutory laws. As a result, many of the above protections also become binding terms and conditions of the pre-construction contract or purchase agreement.  For example, most contracts recite the required Florida Statutes § 718.202 and 718.503 language.  As a result, those statutory protections become contractual terms.  Most contracts contain a firm or estimated completion date, which can also be the basis for a breach of contract claim for untimely completion.  The time bar/statute of limitations on a cause of action for breach of a written contract can run as long as five (5) years from the date of the breach.

Litigation Strategy

Urban Thier Federer & Jackson, P.A.’s ligitation strategy includes certain situations where a developer claims to have complied with ILSFDA by making an unconditional commitment to complete construction within 2 years (which is the most common exemption utilized by developers to avoid having to provide the purchaser with an ILSFDA compliant property report prior to signing) but then fails to complete construction within 2 years.  In such a situation, the court may have no alternative except to find that either ILSFDA was violated (because the pre-construction contract or purchase agreement does not contain an unconditional commitment to complete construction within 2 years) or the contract was breached due to the developer’s failure to timely perform (in Florida, completion is determined by the date a certificate of occupancy is issued by the responsible government authority for the unit at issue).

Another example is the interplay between ILSFDA or Florida Statutes Chapter 718 and the securities laws. If a developer takes the position that ILSFDA and/or Chapter 718 do not apply to the unit at issue because it is not a property that falls within the definition of a lot (defined under ILSFDA as a residential, condominium, commercial or industrial lot) or a condominium (defined in Chapter 718 as two or more residential units subject to a condominium association), then the transaction may be found to be a security and subject to the securities laws.  A time-barred claim, such as an ILSFDA claim brought after two (2) or three (3) years from the date that the purchaser signed the purchase contract, may be revived by including in the lawsuit a per se/automatic Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act (FDUTPA, Florida Statutes § 501.201) violation, which has a four year statute of limitations.

Conclusion

The first step in protecting yourself as a buyer is to contact an attorney – one who is not affiliated with the developer – in order to understand your particular contract(s) and circumstances. The above analysis is intended to only serve as an example and nothing within this blog or contained on this website should be construed as the giving of legal advice. You should also note that some developers fully comply with the above and other laws and such contracts may not be subject to rescission, termination or other remedies.

Many pre-construction contracts and purchase agreements appear to provide the legally required federal and state disclosures and protections – many even naming the various laws right in the contract. However, a qualified lawyer with the proper experience in real estate litigation and transactions can quickly identify weaknesses in the contract which may subject it to attack via the above referenced and other laws and causes of action.

We encourage you to explore our website to learn more about Urban Thier Federer & Jackson, P.A., Urban Thier Federer & Jackson, Rechtsanwälte, and their attorneys and practice areas. Urban Thier Federer & Jackson, P.A.’s representation of buyers includes litigation of cases in state court, federal court and arbitration proceedings. We encourage you to become informed of your rights and options. You should also ensure that any law firm you consult or retain to represent you has the experience, resources and ability to take your case through trial, if necessary.

Please note that we do not represent you and cannot take any action on your behalf unless and until we enter into a formal written Legal Representation Agreement and any cost deposit or retainer has been cleared into the firm’s attorney trust account.

German American law firm is searching for a business contract associate attorney for its Orlando, Florida office to work closely with a fast paced senior partner. Successful candidate would be a hard worker with superior written and oral communication skills, with at least 3 years experience. Send cover letter and resume in confidence to Career@urbanthier.com.

The United States of America has always been considered to be a traditional immigration country. While immigration laws continue to become increasingly strict, with the appropriate Visa, living and working in the United States is an option for the foreign investor.

E-2 Treaty Investor Visa

The E-2 Treaty Investor Visa is suitable for applicants who intend to invest in the United States, whether through a business entity or an individual. The E-2 Visa requires the applicant be a citizen of one of the treaty partner countries. Germany, Austia and Switzerland are treaty partners with the United States.

The E-2 Visa requires an investment that guarantees the successful operation of a business. There are no strict limitations to the investment. As a matter of fact, the investment percentage for a small business has to be greater than the investment percentage for a large business; the only stipulation is that the business must be active in order to fulfill the requirements; therefore, speculative businesses do not qualify for this particular Visa.

The entrepreneur has to establish that the business is profitable. Basically, this means that the application should include a business plan, which shows that within the next five years the business is going to generate enough income to support the applicant and his family. Proof of profitability can also be shown by pointing out an advantage of the business for the United States, such as the generation of new jobs. Contrary to previous legal regulations, proof of financial independence of the investment, such as the ability of the investor to fall back on other financial resources, is no longer required.

Moreover, the investor must take an active role in the investment. For example, in the case of the purchase of three apartments, the pure rental income without any active effort would be viewed as only a passive investment. The investor or applicant therefore has to take on an active role in management of the purchased property in order to justify the granting of a Visa.

With the E-2 Investor Visa, family members are granted permission for entry and spouses are permitted to work in the United States. Family members are not required to be citizens of the respective treaty country. The Visa application is submitted to the appropriate United States consulate abroad and is decided there.

Ultimately, the investor must travel to the United States to exercise control over the investment and to supervise and continue developing the investment. Should the applicant not be the main investor, then he should be employed in an executive position or highly specialized skill capacity. The application will only be granted by the consulate after a personal interview. The holder of the E-2 Visa will initially receive permission for entry for a maximum duration of two years. It is important to consider the expiration date of the passport.

The author is a licensed attorney in Hamburg, Germany and the State of Florida, United States. Legal representation in non-immigrant cases is possible for all United States consulates and United States states.

Please contact us if you would like more information about our Immigration Law practice area.

This article is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Please note that we do not represent you and cannot take any action on your behalf unless and until we enter into a formal written Legal Reprentation Agreement and any cost deposit or retainer has been cleared into the firm’s attorney trust account.

Urban Thier Federer & Jackson, P.A., continues to accept and represent clients seeking representation against Maesbury Homes, Inc., in the Bahama Bay II development (Bahama Bay, a Condominium, also known as Bahama Bay Resort). The firm is representing purchasers who signed an Agreement for Sale with Maesbury Homes, Inc., for the purchase of a condominium unit in the Bahama Bay II development and who have NOT yet taken ownership of their contracted for unit.  The firm is not representing purchasers in the Maesbury Homes, Inc., Bahama Bay I development.

Many of the causes of action/claims have strict statutes of limitation/time limits which start as early as the date that the purchaser signs the purchase agreement.  Developers, such as Maesbury Homes, Inc., and their attorneys are acutely aware of these time limits – time is on the side of the developers and not the purchasers.

Bahama Bay II is a 406 unit condominium development consisting of phases/buildings 39 through 69.  Phases/buildings 39 through 46 have been completed and certificates of occupancy were issued starting in January 2007.  No certificates of occupancy have been issued for any of the Bahama Bay II phases/buildings since June 17, 2008.  Phases/buildings 47 through 69 have not been completed and no certificates of occupancy have been issued.  The status of each phase/building is:

          PHASE/BUILDING                    DATE OF COMPLETION

                         NUMBER                                   (CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY)

Phase/Building 39                             04/10/2008

Phase/Building 40                             06/17/2008

Phase/Building 41                             12/06/2007

Phase/Building 42                             01/10/2008

Phase/Building 43                             01/07/2008

Phase/Building 44                             12/20/2007

Phase/Building 45                             12/20/2007

Phase/Building 46                             01/07/2008

Phase/Building 47                             not complete

Phase/Building 48                             not complete

Phase/Building 50                             not complete

Phase/Building 51                             not complete

Phase/Building 52                             not complete

Phase/Building 53                             not complete

Phase/Building 54                             not complete

Phase/Building 55                             not complete

Phase/Building 56                             not complete

Phase/Building 57                             not complete

Phase/Building 58                             not complete

Phase/Building 59                             not complete

Phase/Building 60                             not complete

Phase/Building 61                             not complete

Phase/Building 62                             not complete

Phase/Building 63                             not complete

Phase/Building 64                             not complete

Phase/Building 65                             not complete

Phase/Building 66                             not complete

Phase/Building 67                             not complete

Phase/Building 68                             not complete

Phase/Building 69                             not complete

Most of the Bahama Bay II purchasers signed the Agreement for Sale in the 2004 through 2007 timeframe.  As a result, many causes of action may be time barred.  However, other causes of action are viable and it is very important that purchasers take prompt action in order to protect their legal rights.  For example, section 3 of the Bahama Bay II Agreement for Sale expressly provides that once the purchaser is in default, the seller/Maesbury Homes, Inc., is entitled to retain the purchaser’s deposits.  Accordingly, purchasers who wish to enforce their rights should take prompt action to protect their legal rights and interests.

Bahama Bay II purchasers paid a deposit consisting of 20 percent of the Agreement for Sale purchase price. Under Florida law (Florida Condominium Act, Florida Statutes § 718.202), a minimum of 10 percent of the purchase price must be held by an independent escrow agent in a separate escrow account.  However, any deposit amount paid in excess of 10 percent of the purchase price can be released to the developer/Maesbury Homes, Inc., once construction has begun. 

Urban Thier Federer & Jackson, P.A. continues to assist buyers throughout the United States and European Union countries in terminating their pre-construction purchase agreements.  In many cases the law firm’s clients are not even required to travel to Florida.

We encourage you to explore our websites – www.urbanthier.com (United States office) and www.urbanthier.de (German office) to learn more about Urban Thier Federer & Jackson, P.A., Urban Thier Federer & Jackson, Rechtsanwälte, and their attorneys and practice areas including Real Estate Law.  Urban Thier Federer & Jackson, P.A.’s representation of buyers includes litigation of cases in state court, federal court and arbitration proceedings.  We encourage you to become informed of your rights and options.  You should also ensure that any law firm you consult or retain to represent you has the experience, resources and ability to take your case through trial and appellate courts, if necessary.

Please note that we do not represent you and cannot take any action on your behalf unless and until we enter into a formal written Legal Representation Agreement and any cost deposit or retainer has been cleared into the firm’s attorney trust account.