Attorney General Pam Bondi’s Office filed a complaint against HOA Problem Solutions, Inc., as well as several related companies, for using deceptive and unfair practices to acquire properties from financially distressed homeowners. These Floridians’ homes faced impending homeowners’ association foreclosure auction because of outstanding HOA dues. According to the complaint, HOA Problem Solutions told homeowners that they could walk away free and clear from properties if the homeowners executed a quitclaim deed for a fraction of the value of the home. However, the homeowners who executed quitclaims are still being held responsible for prior home loans.
The complaint alleges that once HOA Problem Solutions gained control of the properties, the corporation rented out the homes and collected rent payments for personal profit. The corporation then failed to make payments to holders of the mortgages, in violation of Florida’s Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act. Additionally, HOA Problem Solutions allegedly failed to adequately disclose to tenants that the properties faced foreclosure and the tenants might not be able to stay throughout the term of the leases.
Attorney General Bondi’s Office is seeking to stop HOA Problem Solutions from buying, selling or renting residential real estate, including participating in future foreclosure auctions. The corporation also faces civil penalties for violations of FDUTPA.
To view a copy of the complaint filed, click here.
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Senate Dems call for apology from GOP Senator defending nursing home at center of 14 deaths
Outraged by remarks made yesterday by Republican Senator Dennis Baxley suggesting that the deaths of 14 elderly patients at a South Florida nursing home following Hurricane Irma were somehow self-inflicted, Senate Democratic Leader Oscar Braynon, on behalf of the entire Senate Democratic Caucus, demanded an apology.
“These men and women were entrusted to a nursing home that abandoned that responsibility and left them to die,” said Leader Braynon (D-Miami Gardens). “To say that death was imminent regardless of the actual facts that caused these fatalities not only diminishes the role this nursing home played, but the cascade of events that set the stage for such a calamity to happen. Senator Baxley owes the surviving families an immediate apology.”
At a meeting on Wednesday of the Senate Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee, Senator Baxley stunned many lawmakers as well as members of the public when he deflected blame from the nursing home and inadequate policy to the elderly patients themselves.
“Look at the population,” he reportedly said. “You’re dealing with the 90-somethings. Some of these deaths would naturally occur, storm or no storm. Eventually everyone who was in that nursing home will die. But we don’t need to attribute those all to the storm and bad policy.”
The deaths at the Hollywood Hills Rehabilitation Center are currently under criminal investigation. The nursing home, one of many statewide that lost power during Hurricane Irma’s landfall in Florida, did not have a functioning backup generator to maintain air conditioning in the sweltering heat. The catastrophic conditions led to 14 of the patients eventually succumbing following days of exposure to the intense heat. Eight of them died three days after the power loss; six of them died following their evacuation from the nursing home after authorities were summoned.
“If the fault lies with anyone, it begins with the Scott Administration that allowed bad actors in the nursing home industry to flourish with no effective regulatory oversight. It ends with a nursing home that ignored these helpless souls entrusted to their care,” said Leader Braynon. “Senator Baxley should know better, and he should be ashamed for refusing to place the blame where it actually belongs.”
CFO Patronis Deploys Insurance Experts to the Florida Keys
Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis today announced that the Department of Financial Services is sending insurance specialists to the Florida Keys to assist with the handling of Hurricane Irma claims.
CFO Patronis said, “The Keys are back open for business, but recovery efforts will continue in the weeks ahead and many residents are still in need of help with the filing of insurance claims on their damaged homes. I’ve seen the damage in the Keys firsthand, and I want homeowners to have the best possible advice at their fingertips when making important insurance decisions regarding repairs. We’re proud to be a resource as our fellow Floridians recover and rebuild from this historic storm.”
Beginning Friday, October 13 through Sunday, October 15, the Department will help facilitate five community insurance forums in Monroe County. Hosted in partnership with the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC), the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, the Monroe County Bar Association and a local non-profit group focused on securing fair insurance rates for area residents will also be in attendance.
The community forum locations are as follows:
Key West
Friday, October 13 | 4:30 – 7:30 p.m. EST
Harvey Government Center
1200 Truman Avenue
Lower Keys
Saturday, October 14 | 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. EST
Sugarloaf Fire Station
17175 Overseas Highway, Mile Marker 17
Marathon
Saturday, October 14 | 3:00 – 6:00 p.m. EST
Monroe County BOCC Chambers
2798 Overseas Highway
Islamorada
Sunday, October 15 | 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. EST
Whale Harbor
83413 Overseas Highway, Mile Marker 83.4
Key Largo
Sunday, October 15 | 3:00 – 6:00 p.m. EST
Murray Nelson Government Center
102050 Overseas Highway
Following these weekend events, the Department’s insurance specialists will remain in Monroe County to provide individual insurance assistance at area Capital Bank locations.
Beginning Monday, October 16 through Wednesday, October 18, insurance specialists will be available from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. EST at the following bank locations:
Capital Bank
2348 Overseas Highway
Marathon, FL
Capital Bank
30480 Overseas Highway
Big Pine Key, FL
Capital Bank
330 Whitehead Street
Key West, FL
Capital Bank
80900 Overseas Highway
Islamorada, FL
All Floridians and business owners can gain one-on-one insurance expertise by calling the Department’s toll-free Insurance Consumer Helpline at 1-877-MY-FL-CFO. The Department has also launched a Hurricane Season Insurance Resources website available by visiting www.myfloridacfo.com
Gov. Scott Directs FDOT to Examine Interstate Improvements From I-75/Florida Turnpike Interchange to Florida-Georgia Border
Governor Rick Scott today directed the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to begin examining ways to help expedite evacuation routes from the I-75/ Florida Turnpike Interchange near Wildwood to the Florida-Georgia border during times of emergencies such as hurricanes. FDOT’s report will be submitted in January 2018.
Governor Scott said, “In preparation for Hurricane Irma, the state worked closely with local emergency management, transportation and law enforcement partners to successfully oversee the largest evacuation in U.S. history. Anytime a natural disaster threatens our state, we must do all we can to ensure Floridians can evacuate safely. That is why today, I am directing FDOT and their traffic experts to begin a comprehensive evaluation on ways to help expedite evacuation routes on I-75 from Wildwood to the Florida-Georgia border. This roadway is a major evacuation route, and it is crucial that residents and visitors can quickly and safely travel in this area during emergencies. We will continue to work with all our partners to make sure we are doing everything we can to ensure our state is fully prepared for all emergencies so we can keep our families and visitors safe.”
Florida Recognizes October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Governor Rick Scott proclaimed October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month in Florida. Throughout October, the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) is raising awareness to help recognize and stop domestic violence. This month, DCF also received more than $8 million from the STOP Violence Against Women Formula Grant Program through the U.S. Department of Justice.
“Victims of domestic violence can be your neighbors, friends, and even your family; the mental impact of this trauma can last for generations,” DCF Secretary Mike Carroll said. “DCF will continue to partner with agencies across the state to protect survivors from their abusers and help families rebuild their lives.”
The annual STOP grant will support the implementation of strategies addressing violence against women in Florida. This funding will go toward critical services and programs provided by victim services providers, law enforcement agencies, prosecutors and courts through contracts with the Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence and the Florida Department of Health.
Florida currently has 42 certified domestic violence centers located throughout the state that provide life-saving emergency shelters, services, and programming to survivors and their children. In 2016, the centers provided 145,327 safety plans and responded to 84,457 hotline calls, with an additional 25,540 Florida Domestic Violence Hotline calls. Domestic violence crimes against spouses and cohabitants are overwhelmingly the most frequently reported relationship between perpetrators and victims.
The Florida Domestic Violence Hotline provides multilingual services 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Services include support, advocacy, information and referral services for the survivors of domestic violence, their children, families, and friends residing in Florida’s 67 counties.
If you suspect that someone is involved in domestic violence, call the Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-500-1119.
For more information about DCF’s Domestic Violence Program, CLICK HERE.
AHCA Announces Additional Information About Emergency Power Plan Rule
Please see the below statement from the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA):
“The Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) provided additional information about the Emergency Power Plan Rule. This does not repeal or modify the requirements of the Emergency Power Plan Rule. Nursing homes and assisted living facilities are still required within 60 days of the rule being published to have working generators and 96 hours of fuel to keep patients safe and comfortable.
“This information outlines the rule variance process where under extreme circumstances beyond a facility’s control, a facility can request more time to comply with this life-saving rule per Florida law. Each variance request must contain: steps the nursing home has taken to implement the rule, specific circumstances beyond the facilities control that have prevented full implementation, what arrangements have been made to fully implement the rule, a plan to inform residents and their families of the variance request, and an estimated time of full compliance with the rule. Each request will be thoroughly reviewed for consideration by AHCA.
“Yesterday, Governor Rick Scott directed AHCA and the Department of Elder Affairs (DOEA) to begin the full rulemaking process to make the emergency power plan rule permanent. Again this variance process is already defined in Florida law and does not change the emergency rule that was issued on September 16th in any way. AHCA will continue to aggressively enforce this emergency rule to keep patients safe.”
Jeffery Gibbs named dean of Oviedo Campus at Seminole State College
After a national search, Jeffery Gibbs has been named dean of the Oviedo Campus at Seminole State College of Florida. As dean, Gibbs will be responsible for leading all initiatives related to the operations of the Oviedo campus, including academic programming, student services and facilities. Since joining Seminole State in August 2017, Gibbs has already been deeply engaged in the College’s strategic planning efforts to understand the needs of the local community in Oviedo/Winter Springs and the ways in which the College’s Oviedo Campus can best serve them.
Prior to joining Seminole State, Gibbs was a senior administrative leader at Florida Southwestern State College’s Hendry-Glades Center in Fort Myers and served as an academic dean and faculty member at Zane State College in Ohio. He reports to Dr. Laura Ross, vice president of Academic Affairs.
Gibbs says he is thrilled to be joining Seminole State at a pivotal time in the College’s growth and expansion, noting his prior leadership experience in college strategic planning, institutional and programmatic accreditation, maximizing the relationships between satellite and main campus centers, as well as serving as a faculty member, will benefit Seminole State and the nearby community. “I relish the opportunity to collaborate with the Seminole State team and civic and community leaders to bring innovation to the Oviedo Campus and contribute to student success.”
Gibbs earned a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Industrial and Systems Engineering from Ohio University, a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Dayton, and is pursuing a doctoral degree in higher education leadership.
The College’s Oviedo Campus is a jewel in the Seminole State crown. Opened in 2001 as a result of a $30 million investment, the campus sits on 181 acres, which includes a 120-acre nature preserve. It features state-of-the-art classrooms and laboratories and offers students small class sizes and hands-on, real-world instruction. The Oviedo Campus is home to arts and sciences and engineering, design and construction programs, as well as such programs as Associate in Arts/University Transfer degrees with DirectConnect (guaranteed admission) to University of Central Florida (UCF); Associate in Science and Bachelor of Science degrees in Engineering Technology; Adult Education/Adult High School; and English as a Second Language (ESOL).
Seminole State College of Florida, with 1,500 employees on six sites in Central Florida, is the seventh-largest employer in Seminole County. The College offers a competitive benefits package, incentives for advanced education, and opportunities for personal and professional development. For information on careers at Seminole State, please visit the Human Resources employment website.
Governor Rick Scott Reappoints Two to District Board of Trustees of Daytona State College
Governor Rick Scott today announced two reappointments to the District Board of Trustees of Daytona State College.
Bob Davis, 80, of Port Orange, is the President of the Halifax Lodging & Hospitality Association. He previously served as the chairman of the Civil Service Board for the city of Daytona Beach Shores. Davis is reappointed for a term beginning October 11, 2017, and ending on May 31, 2021.
Mary Ann Haas, 65, of Flagler Beach, is a retired district curriculum director of the Flagler County School District. She received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Central Florida and is reappointed for a term beginning October 11, 2017, and ending May 31, 2021.
The appointments are subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.
NSU’s New M.D. College Receives Preliminary Accreditation; First Class to Start in 2018
Research will be emphasized in the NSU College of Allopathic Medicine’s innovative curriculum. Pictured: Johannes W. Vieweg, M.D., FACS, founding dean, speaks with Julia James, Ph.D, post-doctoral researcher, and Ron Thomas, B.Sc., research assistant, in the NSU Cell Therapy Institute laboratory.
The Nova Southeastern University (NSU) College of Allopathic Medicine has received preliminary accreditation – a major milestone that allows the new medical school to accept an inaugural class of 50 students into its innovative and coveted Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) program, which will matriculate in August 2018.
The accreditation follows a site visit and a favorable review by a survey team of educators from the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME), the organization that accredits M.D. programs in the U.S. and Canada. The college is now the eighth M.D. program in Florida and one ofonly 148 in the United States.
“The accreditation decision is a transformational moment in the history of NSU which brings the university another step closer toward NSU’s Vision 2020 and its goal of becoming a nationally recognized, top-tier university of teaching, research, service, and learning,” said NSU President Dr. George Hanbury.
“NSU has made remarkable commitments to medical education, research and patient care, building a strong foundation for an innovative, research-intensive medical program,” said Johannes W. Vieweg, M.D., FACS, Founding Dean of the college. “As a new medical college, we are in a unique positon to leverage institutional resources and external partnerships to create a new educational model that will transform the delivery of health care in our community and beyond.”
Hospital Corporation of America (HCA) East Florida and its hospital network is the preferred academic medical partner of the new college, providing student training experiences in clinically relevant settings. HCA soon will break ground on a 200-bed hospital which will evolve into a teaching and research hospital on NSU’s campus located within walking distance to the university’s educational and research facilities, including NSU’s newly opened $100 million, 215,000-sq.-ft. Center for Collaborative Research.
“HCA is committed to investing in educational programs that provide the best medical training available to future physicians, with the ultimate goal of increasing the quality of health care for patients,” said Michael G. Joseph, President and CEO of HCA East Florida. “Nova Southeastern University has developed an innovative curriculum and partnership model that will provide students with an extra level of preparation for their clinical rotations and residency programs, giving them an edge over their peers.”
The new college’s educational program will be taught in conjunction with the other seven life science colleges in an interdisciplinary fashion within NSU’s Health Professions Division, using existing renovated space to accommodate the new M.D. student class and the college’s active-learning curriculum. To meet demands in all of its life science academic programs as well as the M.D. program, NSU is planning to build a more than 200,000-sq.-ft., state-of-the-art interdisciplinary medical education building to complement its vast health professions facilities and health care centers.
Developed by a team of more than 100 medical educators, physicians and researchers, NSU’s innovative curriculum integrates didactics on ethics and humanities, genomics, inter-professional collaboration, biomedical informatics and leadership. The curriculum also includes a heavy emphasis on research, technology and innovation throughout the educational program leading to the M.D. degree.
Medical students will train to become active learners and work in small groups using active inquiry under the direction of a faculty facilitator. Students will be challenged to solve real-world medical problems using clinical cases and a team-based approach. Compared to passive, lecture-style teaching, the college’s curriculum is designed to better prepare medical students to interact with patients and health care team members. During clinical rotations, residencies and as practicing physicians, these lessons will provide necessary skills for leadership and upholding excellent standards of care.
“This college and our curriculum were purposely designed to train and develop physician leaders who will transform health care as we know it,” added Dr. Vieweg. “Today’s medical students are hungry for real-world examples and experiences that will better prepare them to practice medicine and pursue careers as hospital administrators, research leaders, policy makers or business executives.”
After meeting specified requirements, students will enter clinical rotations halfway through their second year of medical school, providing additional real-world training during the four-year program. Students will have the opportunity to apply for clinical rotations throughout HCA East Florida’s network of hospitals, at the West Palm Beach VA Medical Center, and eventually at the HCA teaching and research hospital planned to be built on NSU’s campus.
Research is a core mission of the college. Students will be required to complete research courses and will have additional elective opportunities to expand their research portfolio with the support of faculty mentors. The college is home to faculty researchers from the NSU Cell Therapy Institute, who conduct translational research focused on the discovery of cell-based therapies to prevent, treat, and cure life-threatening and debilitating diseases.
The NSU Cell Therapy Institute is a unique collaboration with leading medical research scientists from NSU and Sweden’s world-renowned Karolinska Institutet (KI) in Stockholm. KI is globally recognized for its Nobel Assembly, which awards the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine annually.
In addition to NSU’s existing $3.7 billion economic impact on the state of Florida, by 2030, the college is expected to directly and indirectly generate another $350 million in economic activity annually, supporting more than 2,000 local jobs, and generate $17 million each year in tax revenue impacts. The college is also establishing strong ties with the South Florida community through partnerships with local health care and community organizations to develop outreach strategies to better serve patients and improve health outcomes.
For additional information on the college, visit www.md.nova.edu. Primary applications for the charter class will be available through the American Medical College Application Service® in late October 2017.
Excerpts from Commissioner Adam Putnam’s Remarks to Florida Congressional Delegation in Washington, D.C.
Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam joined Governor Rick Scott to discuss the recent agricultural damage caused by Hurricane Irma and to request federal assistance. The following are excerpts from his remarks:
“The Florida delegation has a long history of coming together in the aftermath of these types of disasters and bringing the full weight of the third largest delegation in support of our state.
“We’re grateful for you being here and for your efforts on our behalf. Every single one of your districts has been impacted, if not by Irma, then by Nate and by the continued fallout of Hurricane Maria in ways that will continue to affect Florida.
“The Governor has done an extraordinary job before, during and after the storm managing this crisis.
“The one area that doesn’t historically have a standing program of assistance is disaster assistance for agriculture, for the things we grow in Florida. Florida agriculture has historically been the zebra of American agriculture. Most US ag policy is designed for Midwestern program crops.
“So dragon fruit, and jackfruit, and avocados in Homestead, and the citrus industry throughout the state, and the winter vegetable industry historically have not had the risk management tools or disaster assistance tools that other parts of US agricultural commodities have had, which is why we’re here.
“The simple ask is that disaster assistance for agriculture relief be included in the bill that’s moving this week. I know that’s a short turnaround, I know that’s a heavy lift, but time is of the essence for supporting growers who have between 50- and 100-percent of their crop on the ground.
“So this is a broad calamity for the second largest industry in the state. The preliminary economic reports peg the loss at $2.5 billion.
“You can stand in any orange grove in Florida right now and listen to the fruit hitting the ground like rainfall because of the longer-term damage that continues to play out. You can walk through any grove in Florida and smell the rot of fruit that was just weeks away from being harvested and, as the Governor said, for the first time in years may have been a larger crop than the year before.
“As it is today, the official crop estimate will come out tomorrow, and I put zero stock in it because there’s no way they have an accurate count of the estimate they’ll release tomorrow based on the continued damage that’s falling out from Hurricane Irma and the fact that they pulled their limb counters out of the groves at a time when they didn’t have an accurate picture of the long-term damage to the trees and to the crop.
“We’re looking at catastrophic losses across these commodities and so with that, I’ll close by saying our ask is that the bill that the House will take up this week that it include the $2.5 billion to be directed to the USDA for the USDA to then administer the program.”
