Author Archives: Jay Butchko
If You Are a Landlord Seeking To Sell Your Tenant-Occupied Property
Some of the many landlord-tenant legal issues that we deal with have to do with landlords who are ready to sell their property that is currently being rented by tenants. Below, we discuss some of the options that you as a landlord have to do so; based on what type of lease agreement you… Read More »
The “Last Straw” Before Divorce
As family law attorneys who assist a number of clients going through divorce in Florida each year, we frequently hear clients tell us that they decided to get a divorce because they experienced ‘the last straw,’ or, conversely, that they felt blindsided by their partner, who said that something triggered ‘the law straw’ and… Read More »
If You Are a Business Owner or Thinking Of Forming a Business, Make Sure You Do This before Tax Season Arrives
When it comes to owning and operating a business, not only is it important to ensure that all of your financials and tax information is in order, but there are a number of operations you want to make sure are in order at the end of each year. Forgetting even one of these important… Read More »
A Look at Hurricane Michael’s Damage in Florida & New Rules for Insurance Companies
The estimated damage – just to agricultural resources – from Hurricane Michael across Florida and several other states is forecast to go over $1.3 billion, and includes cotton farms, pecan farms, and poultry operations as some of the hardest hit. Hurricanes are especially damaging to cotton crops, leading to an increase in the price… Read More »
Where New Technology Could Place Your Business at Risk
While new technology is expected to solve a number of our problems–from reducing human error to growing the global economy–it is also expected to have a significant effect on corporate liability, commercial litigation, insurance litigation, and product liability claims. As the industry grows in complex technology, companies and insurers need to make sure that… Read More »
The Top Common (But Costly) Financial Mistakes to Avoid During Divorce
For many people, divorce is time consuming and emotionally draining, which explains why some are tempted to make some considerable financial mistakes during the process. While this is understandable, we as attorneys practice in divorce and family law frequently have to address some of the financial fallout from this decision-making, which then makes the… Read More »
Divorce And Child Custody: Do Men Get A Fair Shake These Days?
Many parents these days find it difficult to find that right life-balance when it comes to juggling career, child support, and shared custody after divorce. Recently, CNN ran an interesting piece focusing on some perspectives of fathers, in particular, who feel that the system has let them down. Some of these fathers have spent… Read More »
Florida Appellate Decisions Push Bad Faith Standard & Raise Concerns
The longstanding standard of what constitutes bad faith in Florida was determined by the Florida Supreme Court almost 40 years ago. The Court determined that an insurer has a duty to use the same degree of care and diligence as someone “of ordinary care and prudence.” Insurers must investigate the facts, give fair consideration… Read More »
Significant Lawsuit Filed Against Tower Hill Insurance for Fraud & Other Crimes Connected With Hurricane Irma
In September, a lawsuit was filed against Tower Hill Insurance in Florida, alleging that the company engaged in fraud concerning a number of claims filed by Hurricane Irma victims, defrauding them of money that they are owed. The lawsuit specifically alleges that Tower conspired with two other companies—Humble and Ladder Now—to deny or underpay… Read More »
Study Finds That Third-Party Bad-Faith Insurance Claims Are Somewhat Out of Control in Florida
According to a new study, Florida’s third-party bad-faith legal environment increases claim costs for every insured vehicle by an average of $106 per claim, or a total of more than $7 billion in additional claim costs over more than a decade. According to some experts, most of these costs can reportedly be attributed to… Read More »
