For those of you recovering from Ian, our hearts are with you, and our team is here to help your community in any way we can. That is why we are bringing you as much information as possible to help guide you through the process in the aftermath of Ian. Different locales face different […]
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Hurricane Ian Webinar Series: Fort Myers Beach
For those of you recovering from Ian, our hearts are with you, and our team is here to help your community in any way we can. That is why we are bringing you as much information as possible to help guide you through the process in the aftermath of Ian. Different locales face different […]
Read MoreHurricane Ian Webinar Series: Sanibel/Captiva
For those of you recovering from Ian, our hearts are with you, and our team is here to help your community in any way we can. That is why we are bringing you as much information as possible to help guide you through the process in the aftermath of Ian. Different locales face different […]
Read MoreSanjay Kurian Quoted in Daily Business Review
Becker’s Ft. Myers Office Managing Shareholder Sanjay Kurian was quoted in the Daily Business Review article titled, “New Florida Insurance Law Is Poised to Put a Damper on Property Claims Litigation.” To read the full article, please click here. Sanjay Kurian is Florida Bar Board Certified in Construction Law and is recognized by leading legal […]
Read MoreDamage Due to Hurricane Irma? September 10 Deadline to File a Claim
If your community association has experienced property damage as a result of Hurricane Irma and you have not yet filed a claim, the deadline to do so is drawing near. Florida homeowners have up to three years after a hurricane makes landfall to file an initial claim, supplemental claim, or reopen a claim. September 10, […]
Read MoreBecker Launches Public Adjusting Firm for Community Associations
Becker is pleased to announce the launch of Association Adjusting, the one and only public adjusting company that exclusively serves community associations throughout Florida. Virtually every community association will experience a significant property damage claim at some point during its lifespan. In addition to windstorms, fires and floods there are the everyday water leaks with […]
Read More“Lessons We’re Learning from COVID-19” – FLCAJ Magazine
The COVID-19 pandemic has rewritten the operational script for many industries, including the community association industry. As with most of life’s challenges, we are acquiring take-away lessons that will help us adapt even more quickly the next time a curveball heads our way. The following lessons our boards, residents, and managers have learned over the […]
Read More“Disaster Planning Beyond Hurricanes” – FLCAJ Magazine
Florida associations are accustomed to preparing for hurricanes, but disaster plans should also account for other catastrophic events where there is often less advance warning, such as tornadoes or even activeshooter scenarios. Relying on outside crisis experts for guidance is crucial to ensure that your association is prepared to handle an unexpected and dangerous situation, […]
Read MoreDonna DiMaggio Berger Appointed Chair of Florida Bar RPPTL Section Pandemic Task Force
Fort Lauderdale, Florida – June 3, 2020 – Becker, a multi-practice commercial law firm with attorneys, lobbyists and other professionals at offices throughout the East Coast, is pleased to announce that Community Association Shareholder Donna DiMaggio Berger has been appointed chair of the Florida Bar Real Property Probate and Trust Law (RPPTL) Section’s Pandemic Task […]
Read More“Can I Trim Tree Limbs?” – Naples Daily News
Q: I am a new owner of a home located within a deed restricted community. Many of the lots, including mine, have large oak trees located between the rear of the residence and the community property line. The oak trees are never trimmed by the association. One oak tree in particular is located on common […]
Read MoreFEMA Public Assistance Guidance, Cost Share Legislation, and Hurricane/COVID Planning
There has been a good deal of FEMA news since Friday including public assistance guidance, legislation to decrease local cost share, and some interesting coverage from Axios on the potential intersection of hurricane season and continuing COVID-19 response. Here is a breakdown: Public Assistance Guidance On Friday we participated in a webinar discussion with FEMA’s […]
Read MoreWebinar: Force Majeure in the Age of COVID-19
Hurricanes, floods, and other natural disasters are commonly found in force majeure clauses, however, global pandemics are often left out. Join us for a live, in-depth discussion on this topic Thursday, April 23, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Becker attorneys will examine force majeure from a broad perspective, discussing how the clause affects players […]
Read More“COVID-19 Presents Unique Questions for Associations” – News-Press
The World Health Organization has declared the Coronavirus a pandemic. States of emergency have been declared at the federal, state and many local levels. Not surprisingly, we are being asked what steps associations can and can’t (and should and shouldn’t) take. All of the association statutes in Florida contain an “emergency powers” provision that gives […]
Read MoreHow COVID-19 Affects Residential Sales or Purchases Under the FAR BAR Contract
It’s still business as usual, albeit remotely, here at Becker and Association Title Services. Our team is diligently working to close each transaction in a timely manner utilizing the latest technology and our vast resources. Interest rates are lower than ever and it is a great time to buy or refinance (side note: ATS also […]
Read More“Managing Common Housing Under the Threat of COVID-19” – FCAP Managers Report
Managers are on the front lines of many challenging issues for private residential communities but managing a pandemic is uncharted territory for most. With the number of cases of COVID-19 increasing in Florida and the fact that Governor DeSantis has declared a State of Emergency, proactive community association management professionals are thinking about how this […]
Read More“Hurricane Shutters Can Be Regulated” – News-Press
Q: I understood that Florida law permitted a unit owner in a condominium to install hurricane shutters to protect their unit. I was recently told by my association that only a specific type of shutter could be installed and that any other type of shutter was prohibited including putting plywood over my windows. Can the […]
Read More“Weathering The Storm: A Top 10 List For Condo and HOA Boards” – Miami Herald
As all Floridians know, storm season can be a very hectic time. Preparation for – as well as the aftermath of – storms is stressful. Board members of community associations are hit particularly hard by the nerve-wracking days of hurricane season because not only do they have to worry about themselves, they also have to […]
Read MoreEpisode 06: Can Associations Force Residents to Leave During a Hurricane? – “Can They Do That?”
Not everyone chooses to evacuate during dangerous storms. Can community associations force residents to leave? Can they turn off the power and elevators, leaving those who stay stranded? Community association members across the state are asking, “Can They Do That?” When it comes to association rules and bylaws, there seem to be more questions than […]
Read MoreBecker’s Washington Weekly: Week of June 3, 2019
The House The House returns for a short week starting Monday and ending Wednesday as lawmakers begin their push to pass important legislation before the August recess. The first order of business in the House will be passing HR 2157, the long awaited disaster aid bill that will provide $19.2 billion in funding for […]
Read MoreLegislative Update: 2019 Post-Legislative Session Report
One day after its scheduled close, the legislature adjourned after passing a $91.1 billion budget which fell slightly short of Governor Desantis’ recommended budget. $682 million was appropriated for water-quality efforts related to red tides, algae blooms, and Everglades restoration, and over $220 million was directed to the panhandle area for Hurricane Michael recovery efforts. […]
Read MoreLegislative Update: 2019 Session – Week 9
Week 9: April 29 – May 3, 2019 Emergency Services: The Governor approved SB 426, Firefighters, sponsored by Senator Flores. The bill grants certain benefits to a firefighter upon receiving a diagnosis of cancer if certain conditions are met, and requires an employer to make certain disability payments to a firefighter in the event of […]
Read MoreLegislative Update: 2019 Session – Week 5
Week 5: April 1 – 5, 2019 Proposed 2019-2020 Budget The House and Senate Chambers have also released the first drafts of their proposed 2019-2020 budget. Here is a generalized breakdown of the current draft budget compared to last year’s budget, and the draft budget broken down by section. Source Senate PCB 2500 House PCB […]
Read MoreKeep Lee County Beautiful Great America Cleanup Day
April 13, 2019 was proclaimed “Keep Lee County Beautiful Great America Cleanup Day” at the Lee County Board of County Commissioners’ meeting. Becker’s own Katie Berkey, Esq., AICP (second from the right) has been proud to serve on Keep Lee County Beautiful’s Board of Directors since 2016. The mission of Keep Lee County Beautiful, a […]
Read More“Florida Must Take the Lead When It Comes to Sea Level Rise” – Florida Politics
There’s a joke about South Florida – there are two things you can see from space. The first is the Great Wall of China and the second is the divide between Miami-Dade and Broward Counties. Neither is really true, and more and more each day our region and our state are becoming increasingly unified. South […]
Read More“Hurricane Insurance Claims for Condominium Associations” – FLCAJ Magazine
There is a lot of information on how associations can prepare for hurricanes but much less information as to what happens after the hurricane, particularly as it pertains to insurance claims. A question that managers and board members need to consider is, what is required after a hurricane to ensure compliance with your insurance policy […]
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