Personalized Representation for Community Associations
Community Association Law Civil Litigation Corporate Law Real Estate
About Us The Ruggieri Law Firm, P.A. was established upon a commitment to provide a level of service to community associations that is impossible to provide on a large scale. In my 14 years representing Community Associations in central Florida, the aspect of my practice that gives me the greatest level of professional satisfaction is the relationship I have developed with many long-term clients. Indeed, it is why I love the practice of law. Many law firms experiencing rapid growth create “departments” and a client may have to speak with several different individuals within the firm to receive complete information on all of their matters. The direct relationship between attorney and client is sacrificed for volume. Community Association Board Members become frustrated with having to make multiple points of contact just to gain a complete picture of their ongoing matters. I truly believe such a business model invariably fails.
My philosophy is simple: Maintain a direct relationship with all of my Community Association clients and make it easy for them to contact me directly to discuss all of their matters, including collections. My direct line and personal cell phone will be available to all clients solidifying the level of service I demand from the firm and myself. I look forward to serving your community and providing a level of service beyond reproach.
Meet Frank Ruggieri Frank A. Ruggieri is the founding member of The Ruggieri Law Firm, P.A. and has practiced law for 18 years in Central Florida, 14 of which have been devoted to community associations. He received his Bachelor of Science in Management at Florida State University with honors and attended the Walter F. George school of Law at Mercer University in 1995. He is a member of the Florida bar and a member of the Trial Lawyers and Real Property, Probate and Trust Law sections of the Florida Bar. Frank has since been admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida and the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals. Frank’s litigation experience includes trials and prosecution of appeals before the First and Fifth District Courts of Appeal. He concentrates his practice in the areas of community association, commercial and general corporate law. Frank has prosecuted and defended covenant violation, collection, commercial and construction defect cases on behalf of the Firm’s community association and corporate clients. Mr. Ruggieri has been published in CondoManagement Magazine covering articles on collection and covenant violation litigation. He has likewise spoken on community association topics at CAI and Orange County Homeowners Forums in addition to frequently teaching accreditation courses.
Attorney’s Fees - Lein Foreclosures
Collection Services The collection of delinquent maintenance fees or “assessments” has become an ever-worsening issue for Community Associations, especially in the State of Florida. Communities were hit hard by the foreclosure crisis when homeowners upside down on their mortgages and perhaps even out of work due to the poor economy let their assessment invoices go unpaid indefinitely and debt that had accumulated, creating an unfair burden on their neighbors to pick up the slack. Some homeowners even sought to “work the system”, essentially living rent free at the expense of others. This has created a need to think outside the box and develop new strategies and a different view of collecting delinquent assessments. Turning away from a delinquent account and not moving forward with it due to an active mortgage foreclosure is no longer an option with financial institutions refusing to move forward with their own foreclosures for years. Allow my fourteen years of experience to be put to work for you to recoup what you are owed and alleviate the burden created by homeowners who have stopped paying their assessments.
Covenant Enforcement Actions to enforce the covenants or “rules” for the Community are provided on an hourly basis. However, the firm typically bills one half hour of attorney time for initial demand letters and one hour of attorney time for Statutory Offers of Mediation. A flat rate structure can be negotiated for “bulk” covenant enforcement projects where more than five covenant enforcement matters will be pursued at the same time.
Construction Defect Construction defect litigation is complex and can be extremely expensive. It should never be handled by an attorney with little or no experience handling them. It oftentimes comes down to a “battle of the experts” and I have developed relationships with some of the most experienced and well-respected experts in the industry with extensive experience both in the field and the courtroom. Construction defect matters are typically handled on an hourly basis but a contingency fee arrangement is available based upon the circumstances following a thorough evaluation of the matter.
Intent to Lein
$200
Lien and/or Satisfaction of Lien
$125
Intent to Foreclose
$200
Review of Title Work
$75
Draft Foreclosure Complaint
$500
Motion to Appoint Receiver and Collect Rent
$500
Draft Motion for Summary Judgment
$450
Attend Sale and Issuance of Certificate of Title
$250
Personal Judgment Only Demand Letter
$200
Draft Complaint and Attend Pre-Trial Conference
$500
Mortgage Foreclosure Flat Rate (includes review of complaint, Answer and Monthly Status)
$475
Bankruptcy Proof of Claim
$125
Relief From Stay (Attorney’s Fees $250 + $300 Costs)
$550
All Other Activities Payoff / Estoppel Letters
$100
Verification of Debt or Balance Due Letters
$100
Final Notice or Returned Check Letter
$100
Settlement Negotiation
$300
Payment Plans (Maximum of 12 Months)
$150
Payment Plan Monitoring (Monthly)
$35
Account Reconciliation
$225
Property Redemption by Owner
$500
Fee Structure Withheld Billing You will not be invoiced for attorney’s fees on a monthly basis. Rather, we look primarily to the homeowner to recover the attorney’s fees.
Flat Rate for Mortgage Foreclosures Pay just one flat rate to have our firm answer a mortgage foreclosure and provide monthly updates until the case is completed by the bank. Stop paying monthly monitoring fees.
Monthly Status Reports
General Counsel
Monthly status reports are provided, personally prepared by me, in a format that’s easy to understand. Have a question? Contact me directly and get it answered fast.
All other matters which might require legal advice and counseling are handled on an hourly basis. However, larger projects such as amended and restated documents, multiple amendments, and Marketable Record Title Act projects can be undertaken by the firm for a flat rate.
The firm’s rate sheet is simple and transparent. The Community Association will not be invoiced monthly for these and we look primarily to the owner for recovery of attorney’s fees.
“Devoted to the Personalized Representation of Community Associations”
ORLANDO OFFICE
MELBOURNE OFFICE
390 North Orange Avenue Suite 2300 Orlando, FL 32801
6767 N. Wickham Road Suite 401-5 Melbourne, FL 32940
P (407) 395-4766 F (407) 730-3584
P (321) 241-4770 F (321) 241-4771