Bruno v. Mona Lisa at Celebration, LLC (In re Mona Lisa at Celebration, LLC)
Bruno v. Mona Lisa at Celebration, LLC (In re Mona Lisa at Celebration, LLC)
Opinion of the Court
The numerous plaintiffs in these four adversary proceedings each signed a purchase agreement to buy units in a hotel-condominium project developed by the debtor, Mona Lisa at Celebration, LLC.
Mona Lisa marketed, developed, and sold units in a luxury hotel-condominium development in Celebration, Florida. From June 2005 through September 2007, plaintiffs entered into one of two types of agreements with Mona Lisa to purchase specific units. Initially, the contracts did not require Mona Lisa to complete construction within two years. These are the “Original Purchase Agreements.” Starting in 2006, Mona Lisa changed the form of the contract to impose an obligation on itself to complete construction within two years. These are the “Updated Purchase Agreements.”
Almost every buyer, regardless of which version of the contract was signed, made a deposit of more than 10% of the purchase price with Mona Lisa.
Construction of the project is now complete. The development consists of 240
Mona Lisa’s business (like that of many other businesses in Orlando) was crippled by the financial recession of 2008. Property values plummeted. Many buyers refused to close on their sales contracts. To add to Mona Lisa’s troubles, construction delays pushed back completion of the Mona Lisa development over a year from its original estimated closing date of April 30, 2007.
From May 2008 through January 2009, some plaintiffs brought individual actions against Mona Lisa in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, seeking rescission of their purchase agreements. On November 7, 2008, the District Court consolidated these civil cases.
During 2009, seventy-one plaintiffs filed four adversary proceedings against Mona Lisa alleging violations of various state and federal laws.
Plaintiffs from all four adversary proceedings then filed amended complaints now asserting these similar sixteen causes of action against the remaining three defendants — Westchester, SunTrust, and Mona Lisa:
• Counts I-IV — Mona Lisa violated various provisions of the Interstate Land Sales Full Disclosure Act in 15 U.S.C. § 1701 et seq.
• Count V — Mona Lisa failed to file a registration statement in violation of the Securities Act of 1933.
• Count VI — Mona Lisa failed to file a registration statement in violation of the Investor Protection Act in Florida Chapter 517.
• Count VII — Mona Lisa failed to maintain separate escrow accounting for purchaser deposits, and Mona Lisa used purchaser deposits for improper purposes, in violation of Florida Condominium Act § 718.202.
• Count VIII — Mona Lisa failed to file with the Division of Florida Land Sales, Condominiums, and Mobile Homes all the required documents and amendments, in violation of Florida Condominium Act § 718.502.
• Count IX — Mona Lisa failed to deliver a prospectus and disclosure statement with all exhibits to prospective purchasers, in violation of Florida Condominium Act § 718.503.
• Count X — Mona Lisa made material misrepresentations in advertising material for the purchase of a condominium, in violation of the Florida Condominium Act § 718.506.14
• Count XI — Mona Lisa’s alleged violation in Counts I-X constitute per se violations of the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act (“FDUT-PA”) in Fla. Stat. § 501.201 et seq.
• Count XII — Mona Lisa failed to notify purchasers that their units were part of a Community Development District, in violation Fla. Stat. § 190.04, which constitute a per se FDUTPA violation.
• Count XIII — Mona Lisa failed to notify purchasers of the type, thickness, and R-Value of insulation that was to be used in their units, in violation of 16 C.F.R. § 460.16, which constitute a per se FDUTPA violation.
• Count XIV — Mona Lisa failed to disclose that the units were subject to a home owner’s association in violation of Fla. Stat. § 720.401.
• Count XV — Breach of Contract.
• Count XVI — Declaratory Relief.
Some of these counts are identical to ones the Court addressed in the first summary judgment decision,
Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56, made applicable by Federal Rule of Bankruptcy Procedure 7056, a court may grant summary judgment where “there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.”
In determining entitlement to summary judgment, “facts must be viewed in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party only if there is a “genuine” dispute as to those facts.”
THE INTERSTATE LAND SALES FULL DISCLOSURE ACT (COUNTS I-TV)
The Interstate Land Sales Full Disclosure Act (“ILSFDA”)
In Counts I-IY, plaintiffs move for summary judgment under various sections of ILSFDA claiming “every critical disclosure provision of the ILSFDA was violated by Mona Lisa.”
ILSFDA Only Applies to Sales of “Lots”
The ILSFDA only applies to the sale of “lots” that are part of a sales program of 100 or more lots offered pursuant to a common promotional plan.
Plaintiffs now have filed amended complaints asserting new ILSFDA claims, and additional plaintiffs have joined the lawsuit.
Statute of Limitations under ILSFDA
As a threshold matter and assuming ILSFDA applies, plaintiffs must have timely filed their claims under ILSFDA’s statute of limitations in order to bring an ILSFDA claim.
We agree with Plaintiffs that the district court’s damages award is permitted under § 1709. Even though Plaintiffs are not entitled to the automatic statutory revocation remedies provided in 15 U.S.C. § 1708(c) because they did not attempt to revoke their contracts within two years from the date of signing the purchase contracts, they may still be entitled to the return of their deposits as equitable relief under § 1709. Where, as here, a developer violates § 1703(c)’s notice requirement obligating the developer to disclose to Plaintiffs their right to rescind, the purchaser may be entitled to relief under § 1709(b).
The two-year limitation period in § 1703(c) governs those circumstances in which an aggrieved purchaser seeks to enforce an automatic, unconditional right to revoke if the requirements of the subsection are met. On the other hand, the three-year limitation period in 15 U.S.C. § 1711 governs those circumstances in which a purchaser seeks rescission that is not automatic, but must be supported by proper proof. In other words, the automatic revocation or [rescission] remedy in § 1703(c) itself is not the only revocation or [rescission] remedy. In addition to that remedy, § 1709(b) permits a purchaser to obtain*601 the deposit as an equitable remedy if the purchaser shows that the remedy is justified by the facts of a specific case.42
The two-year statute of limitation on automatic, “no questions asked” rescission applies regardless of whether the contract properly noticed plaintiffs of their right to rescind under ILSFDA and regardless of whether plaintiffs otherwise had actual notice of this right.
In this case, based on the date each plaintiff filed its ILSFDA claims against Mona Lisa, the only plaintiffs who can bring automatic rescission claims under the ILSFDA are those who filed their claims within two years of signing the original purchase agreement. Appendix A lists the plaintiffs who filed timely rescission claims. (The Court notes each of these plaintiffs also signed Updated Purchase Agreements that, as will be discussed next, are exempt from ILSFDA.) The only plaintiffs who can bring damages claims are those who filed their claims within three years of signing Original Purchase Agreements. Appendix B lists all plaintiffs who filed timely damages claims under ILSFDA. All other plaintiffs filed their claims more than three years after signing their contracts with Mona Lisa. These plaintiffs’ ILSFDA claims are time barred and are listed on Appendix C.
Defendants Entitled to Summary Judgment Barring ILSFDA Claims Brought More than Three Years After Contract Signed
Section 1711(b) of ILSFDA requires that all actions to enforce a right under § 1703 be brought within three years of signing a sales contract.
Defendants Entitled to Summary Judgment on all ILSFDA Automatic Rescission Claims
Most plaintiffs signed the earlier form of Mona Lisa’s contract, the Original Purchase Agreement. As will be discussed, this version of the contract is not exempt from ILSFDA. However, no plaintiff who signed an Original Purchase Agreement filed a timely claim for automatic rescission within two years of signing the contract. All plaintiffs who brought timely automatic rescission claims signed the Updated Purchase Agreements that are ex
Defendants are Entitled to Summary Judgment Against All Plaintiffs Who Signed Updated Purchase Agreements Because the Contracts are Exempt under ILSFDA
Plaintiffs who bring valid causes of action under the ILSFDA within two years of signing purchase contracts are entitled to automatic revocation of their purchase contracts, without proving damages, as long as their contracts are not exempt from the ILSFDA.
Certain contracts, however, are exempt from ILSFDA, if they provide purchasers of pre-construction condominiums sufficient assurances that protect against real estate fraud.
In March 2006, Mona Lisa amended its Original Purchase Agreement to include in Paragraph 3 a promise to complete construction within two years. Pursuant to § 1702(a)(l)-(2), these “Updated Purchase Agreements” containing this new two-year construction promise are exempt from the ILSFDA, unless the two-year construction obligation was “adopted for the purpose of evasion.”
Plaintiffs make several arguments that Mona Lisa’s promise to complete construction within two years was indeed illusory, was included for the sole purpose of evading the statute, and that the Updated Purchase Agreements are not exempt. Spe
In arguing that Mona Lisa inserted the two-year construction requirement into the Updated Purchase Agreement simply to exempt them from ILSFDA, plaintiffs cite to the ILSFDA Guidelines which provide that “any condition which qualifies the obligation to complete a building within two years nullifies the applicability of the exemption.”
Contract provisions which allow for nonperformance or for delays of construction completion beyond the two-year period are acceptable if such provisions are legally recognized as defenses to contract actions in the jurisdiction where the budding is being erected. For example, provisions to allow time extensions for events or occurrences such as acts of God, casualty losses or material shortages are generally permissible.
Although the factual circumstances upon which nonperformance or a delay in performance is based may vary from transaction to transaction, as a general rule delay or nonperformance must be based on grounds cognizable in contract law such as impossibility or frustration and or events which are beyond the seller’s reasonable control.56
A contractual provision renders an obligation “illusory” only when it allows a party “to breach with impunity.”
The Force Majeure Clause Does Not Make the Two-Year Completion Deadline Illusory
In the Updated Purchase Agreements, plaintiffs first point to Paragraph 3,
3. Completion of Unit. Seller shall cause the construction of the Condominium and the Unit to be completed within a period of two (2) years from the date Purchaser signs this Contract. The date for completion of such construction may not be extended by the Seller for any reason other than delays caused by circumstances beyond Seller’s control, such as acts of God, or other grounds cognizable in Florida contract law as impossibility or frustration of performance ....59
The first sentence of Paragraph 3 obligates Mona Lisa to finish construction of plaintiffs’ units within two years of signing their respective purchase agreements. Plaintiffs, however, argue that the second sentence — the force majeure clause — renders illusory the promise to complete construction.
The force majeure clause is appropriate and does not render Mona Lisa’s performance discretionary. In a binding decision, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals has held that a clause excusing performance due to conditions out of the developer’s control does not make the promise to perform “illusory” or preclude a contract from the § 1702(a)(2) exemption.
The Two-Year Completion Deadline was Not Inserted to Evade ILSFDA
Plaintiffs next argue that Mona Lisa added the two-year completion requirement of Paragraph 3 to “evade” compliance with the statute. Under ILSFDA, an exemption will not apply if the mechanism for qualifying for the exemption was “adopted for the purpose of evasion.”
In the Eleventh Circuit, a developer seeking an exemption from the ILSFDA must “produce factual evidence demonstrating that the method of disposition has a real world objective that manifests a legitimate business purpose. The ‘legitimate business purpose’ standard asks the party invoking the exemption to articulate some legitimate business reason for its method of disposition other than the avoidance of the ILSFDA’s consumer protections.”
In this case, Mona Lisa has asserted a legitimate business purpose for including the two-year commitment to complete construction. William Haber-man, a managing member of Mona Lisa, states in his affidavit that Mona Lisa’s construction lender, BankFirst, required the contracts to include the provision in order to invoke ILSFDA’s exemption.
The Limitation of Remedies Provision Does Not Make the Two-Year Completion Deadline Illusory
Plaintiffs next point to Paragraph 13 of the Updated Purchase Agreement, which limits plaintiffs’ available remedies, as a further proof that Mona Lisa’s promise to complete construction within two years was illusory. Paragraph 13 reads as follows:
13. Seller’s Default. If Seller fails to perform Seller’s obligations under this Contract, then Purchaser shall have the right to terminate this Contract and receive a full refund of all Deposits and moneys paid by Purchaser hereunder, together with any accrued interest thereon, and Purchaser shall have the right to pursue claims for specific performance or damages.81
Under recent binding Eleventh Circuit precedent, limiting buyers’ remedies to deposit refunds and damages or specific performance, as Paragraph 13 does here, does not make a builder’s two-year completion
In this case, if Mona Lisa defaults, the buyers have the right to specific performance or damages and the right to terminate the contract and receive a full refund of all deposits paid.
The Risk of Loss Provision Does Not Make the Two-Year Completion Deadline Illusory
Plaintiffs next argue Paragraph 24 of the Updated Purchase Agreements governing incidences of casualty impermis-sibly qualify the two-year construction obligation by giving Mona Lisa the option of nonperformance. Paragraph 24 reads:
Risk of Loss Prior to Closing. Any loss and/or damage to the Condominium Property, the Unit or the common elements between the Effective Date of this Contract and the closing will be at the Seller’s sole risk and expense. Seller shall have the right to elect to repair such damage or destruction.... If Seller does not elect to repair the damage or destruction, this Contract shall be terminated and all Deposits made by Purchaser hereunder shall be refunded to Purchaser, whereupon the parties here to shall be released from all liability hereunder to one another”87
Florida courts interpret casualty provisions like the one above as legitimate contract defenses because the developer’s election not to repair is limited to circumstances beyond a developer’s control.
The Title Exception Provision Does Not Make the Two-Year Completion Deadline Illusory
Plaintiffs point to Paragraph 10(b) of the Updated Purchase Agreement that outlines the developer’s obligation for curing title defects to show Mona Lisa’s two-year construction deadline is illusory. Paragraph 10(b) provides:
Title. Purchaser shall have five (5) days ... to notify Seller in writing of any objection(s) to matters of title that are not Permitted Exceptions and would render title to the Unit unmarketable.... If any objections(s) made by Purchaser would render title unmarketable, Seller shall have ninety (90) days after receipt of notice of the objection(s) to title to cure same, but Seller is not obligated to do so. If Seller cannot or elects not to cure such objection(s) within the ninety (90) day period, Purchaser shall elect one of the following options91
Under this provision, a buyer has two choices. He can accept title as-is without a reduction in the purchase price or he can terminate the contract and receive a full refund of all deposits and accrued interest, waiving all claims against the Seller, and agreeing that “Seller shall not be liable to Purchaser for damages as a result of Seller’s inability or unwillingness to cure any title objection(s) that render title unmarketable.”
This provision in Paragraph 10(b) is similar to the title clause in the purchase contracts in Stefan v. Singer Island Condos, Ltd.
Further, Paragraph 10(b) is distinguishable from the clause at issue in Dorchesr ier
Paragraph 10(b) does not allow Mona Lisa to avoid its obligation to complete construction within two years. Rather, the title provision in the Updated Purchase Agreement only gives Mona Lisa an escape clause in the event unanticipated or unfíxable title defects arise. Construction may not be extended by the seller for any reason other than circumstances beyond seller’s control. Paragraph 10(b) does not make the two-year completion deadline illusory.
The Estimated Closing Date Does Not Make the Two-Year Construction Deadline Illusory
Plaintiffs lastly claim the “Estimated Closing Date” in Paragraph 2 contradicts the absolute two-year construction obligation in Paragraph 3, rendering it illusory, or at least ambiguous, in which case the agreement should be interpreted against the drafter.
Purehaser acknowledges that the Unit and the Condominium improvements of which it is a part have not yet been constructed, and that the Estimated Closing Date is Seller’s good faith estimate of a date when construction shall be completed, a certificate of occupancy can be obtained, and possession can be delivered.
The Estimated Closing Dates in the Updated Purchase Agreements all occur before the end of Mona Lisa’s two-year obligation to complete construction. If Mona Lisa failed to actually close by its Estimated Closing Date, which it did, the contracts permit éxtensions beyond two years only for reasonable defenses to contract and circumstances beyond seller’s control. Mona Lisa’s good faith estimate to close within a certain time frame in Paragraph 2 does not render the two-year construction obligation illusory.
Mona Lisa’s Failure to Provide Notices Required by § 1703(a), (b), and (d) of ILSFDA Caused Plaintiffs No Actual Damages
After concluding that no plaintiff has an automatic right to rescind the purchase agreement under ILSFDA, that any plaintiff who filed a claim more than three years after signing the purchase agreement is time barred from bringing an ILSFDA claim, and that any plaintiff who signed an Updated Purchase Agreement has no ILSFDA claim, the only remaining plaintiffs with ILSFDA claims are those who signed Original Purchase Agreements and who filed a claim within three years of signing the contract. A list of these plaintiffs is attached as Appendix E. Because ILSFDA does not provide for statutory damages,
Consistent with the law of the Eleventh Circuit, this Court rejects plaintiffs’ bald contention that “proof of loss causation is simply not required under ILSFDA.”
To show actual damages, plaintiffs must allege that Mona Lisa’s failure to provide them with required disclosures
Defendants insist that plaintiffs cannot show actual damages because plaintiffs received numerous disclosures similar to what would have been provided in the property report and nothing in the property report or the other required disclosures, had they been provided, would have changed plaintiffs’ minds about purchasing a hotel-condominium unit.
The plaintiffs’ bare allegations that they would have changed their mind if Mona Lisa had given them the required disclosures is devoid of any basis in fact and is not enough to meet plaintiffs’ burden of production in responding to defendants’ summary judgment motion. Plaintiffs were required to demonstrate with specific facts how the information they did not receive would have altered their decision to pay deposits to Mona Lisa for their respective hotel-condominium units. On summary judgment, when defendants raised a credible doubt as to whether plaintiffs could prove actual damages, plaintiffs are required to show much more than these types of conelusory allegations. Because they have not done so, plaintiffs’ damages claims must fail.
Plaintiffs specifically allege numerous disclosure violations under ILSFDA: (1) Mona Lisa failed to provide a property report required by § 1703(a)(1); (2) Mona Lisa failed to provide a lot description required by § 1703(d)(1); (3) Mona Lisa failed to provide a disclosure relating to future roads and utility services as required by § 1703(a)(2); (4) Mona Lisa failed to provide disclosures relating to the plaintiffs right to cure contract breaches or, that upon a breach, Mona Lisa was entitled to retain up to 15% of the purchase price as required by § 1703(d)(2 and 3); and (5) Mona Lisa failed to disclose a seven-day revocation right as required by § 1703(b). Yet, not a single plaintiff offers any factual proof other than to recite in a rote fashion that, if given the disclosure, they would not have signed the contract.
The likely reason the plaintiffs rely on these conelusory statements is that they cannot demonstrate any actual damages because, by and large, Mona Lisa did everything it promised. Mona Lisa completed construction. The project has the exact same road, pool, suites, bathrooms, kitchens, and utilities contained on the numerous maps and promotional materials each
Perhaps even more telling is the plaintiffs’ argument that Mona Lisa did not disclose a seven-day revocation right as required by § 1703(b). They are correct. Mona Lisa did not give them just seven days to revoke the contract. Mona Lisa gave them fifteen days as required by the Florida Condominium Act.
The ILSFDA’s seven-day revocation provision “is a general buyer’s remorse provision”
Plaintiffs argue this fifteen-day right given by Florida law is insufficient to comply with the seven-day revocation requirements under § 1703(b) of ILSFDA because it restricts a buyers’ rights by requiring written notice, whereas the disclosure required under § 1703(b) has no such limitation.
In this case, plaintiffs were on notice they could cancel their contracts within fifteen days of signing the purchase contracts. None of them pursued this option. Plaintiffs do not explain how the written notice requirement in § 718.503 under Florida law prevented them from asserting their longer fifteen-day right to cancel. Nor do they make any factual allegations as to why, after seven days, they all would have cancelled their agreements based on buyer’s remorse. Nevertheless, they argue that they would have revoked had they been informed of their shorter, seven-day oral revocation right in § 1703(b). Plaintiffs’ only claim of damages comes from their affidavits stating they were:
*613 “unaware of their rescission and revoca- ■ tion rights under the ILSFDA, and the contract did not disclose such rights. Specifically, I was unaware that I had a right to revoke the contract within 2 years after the date I signed the contract, and I was unaware that I had a right to revoke the contract until midnight of the 7th day after signing the contract. If Mona Lisa had disclosed in the contract my right to revoke and rescind, I would have revoked and rescinded the contract within the time provided by the ILSFDA.”116
Plaintiffs’ arguments, that they all would have revoked within seven days had they known they could do so verbally, are unconvincing and unsubstantiated by facts. Defendants are entitled to summary judgment as to those plaintiffs who signed Original Purchase Agreements and timely filed damage claims within three years to the extent that they assert damages arising from Mona Lisa’s failure to provide disclosures required by § 1703(a), (b), or (d) of ILSFDA.
Material Factual Disputes Preclude Summary Judgment as to Mona Lisa’s Failure to Prove Notice of Plaintiffs’ Two-Year Revocation Rights under § 1703(c)
Plaintiffs next allege they were harmed by Mona Lisa’s failure to include notice of plaintiffs’ two-year revocation right in the Original Purchase Contracts, as required under § 1703(c).
In the Eleventh Circuit, plaintiffs can prove they were harmed by a developer’s failure to notice the two-year revocation right by providing specific evidence of causation.
Two prior decisions by the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Harari and Kiertz, came to the same conclusion.
In Harari and Kiersz, as in Gentry, the developer accepted deposits from buyers and then failed to timely complete construction as promised. The plaintiffs in Gentry argued the developer misrepresented the quality and scope of the development as promised.
This case has similar facts. Mona Lisa failed to include notice of plaintiffs’ two-year automatic right to revoke in the contracts. Plaintiffs all claim in affidavits that they would have revoked their contracts within two years had Mona Lisa disclosed this right.
Genuine issues of fact preclude summary judgment on this claim, however, because the Court has not yet determined whether the units are “lots,” and thus whether Mona Lisa is subject to any of the provisions in the ILSFDA. Material factual disputes preclude a determination of whether the units are or are not “lots.” As such, neither party is entitled to summary judgment on Mona Lisa’s failure to comply with § 1703(c) as a matter of law.
Defendants are entitled to summary judgment against all plaintiffs who brought ILSFDA claims after three years of signing their purchase agreements because all these plaintiffs are time barred. Defendants also are entitled to summary judgment as to all plaintiffs who signed Updated Purchase Agreements because their contracts are exempt from the ILSFDA. As to the plaintiffs who signed Original Purchase Agreements and brought damage claims within three years of signing the contract, (1) they have no automatic rescission claim because no plaintiff brought an ILSFDA claim within two years; (2) defendants are entitled to summary judgments for all damage claims brought under § 1703(a), (b), and (d) because the plaintiffs have failed to show any actual harm caused by Mona Lisa’s failure to make the required disclosures; and (3) neither party is entitled to summary judgment for damage claims under § 1703(c) because material factual disputes exist as to whether the “units” are “lots” covered by ILSFDA.
Mona Lisa Did Not Violate Federal or State Securities Laws (Counts V and VI)
In Count V, plaintiffs allege that the hotel-condominium units they purchased from Mona Lisa were unregistered securities under § lie oí the Federal Securities Act of 1933.
Under § lie of the 1933 Securities Act, the seller of any “investment contract” or security must file a registration statement with the SEC. A real estate sales contract can qualify as an “investment contract” or a “security” when the buyer “participate^] in a profit-sharing or rental pooling arrangement upon completing the transaction, or when the transaction includes restrictions limiting the owner’s control over the property.”
The Howey test governs whether a real estate sales contract is a “security” under the 1933 Securities Act.
As to the second Howey factor, in the Eleventh Circuit, a “common enterprise” exists when there is vertical commonality.
The critical factor in determining vertical commonality then is “the amount of control that the investors retain under their ... agreements.”
In this case, no vertical commonality exists, Unlike Morris, plaintiffs here retained a significant amount of control over their individually-owned units under the purchase agreements and were not necessarily dependent on Mona Lisa or any other third party to manage their investment. Certainly, each unit came with restrictions that limited plaintiffs’ control. For example, each buyer could occupy the hotel-condominium unit for only 179 days per year. But, on the other hand, the buyer could unilaterally decide how to use the unit during the remaining 181 days of the year. Moreover, when it comes to deciding with whom and whether to sign a rental agreement—arguably the most important decisions concerning the
The amount of control retained by plaintiffs demonstrates how little dependence they have on Mona Lisa to realize any return on their “investments.” Whether a particular buyer treats his hotel-condominium unit as an investment is up to each buyer. Some buyers may rent out their unit for 181 days per year using the debt- or’s rental management company; other buyers may not rent their unit for even one day. Profitability is not left in the hands of Mona Lisa or its management company. As such, no common enterprise exists.
As to the third prong of the How-ey test, plaintiffs could not have reasonably expected to profit from Mona Lisa’s efforts because Mona Lisa’s promotional materials
Here, Mona Lisa did not emphasize the investment aspect of hotel-condominium ownership. The promotional materials instead emphasized using the units for vacation and recreational purposes and highlighted the many amenities of the development. Although there were statements in the materials suggesting that the buyers could rent their units as hotel rooms, these statements were not the focus of the materials. Furthermore, the purchase agreements include provisions stating that the buyers acknowledge that the seller did not make representations about economic benefits or any tax benefits to be derived from owning a unit.
Mona Lisa’s promotional efforts are thus distinct from those of a developer who markets the development as a passive investment opportunity.
Recent SEC no-action letters
Applying the Howey test, the Court finds under the undisputed facts of this case that, although buyers did pay a deposit to purchase a unit, no common enter
Mona Lisa Violated the Florida Condominium Act (Count VII)
In Count VII, plaintiffs allege Mona Lisa violated § 718.202 of the Florida Condominium Act
Section 718.202 of the Florida Condominium Act imposes obligations on a developer who uses purchasers’ preconstruction deposits “to protect purchasers under pre-construction condominium contracts from loss of their deposits should the developer fail to perform its contractual obligations.”
A developer’s responsibilities then vary depending on whether a buyer pays a deposit in excess of 10% of the purchase price of a condominium unit. Subsection (1) of § 718.202 requires a developer to pay into an escrow account all purchaser deposits up to 10% of the purchase price of the unit (the “Under 10% Escrow”) if construction of the condominium project is not substantially complete at the time the developer contracts to sell the unit. A developer may withdraw and use the funds from the Under 10% Escrow if it provides the purchaser with alternative assurance, such as a surety bond, in an amount equal to the Under 10% Escrow. The Division Director of Florida Land Sales, Condominiums and Mobile Homes of the Department of Business and Professional Regulation in the State of Florida (the “Director”) must approve the alternate assurance prior to use by a developer of any of the funds in the Under 10% Escrow.
A developer who violates § 718.202 of the Florida Condominium Act is subject to stiff penalties. The statute essentially imposes strict liability on a developer who fails to comply with the requirements of § 718.202 — the purchase contracts are voidable and the buyers are entitled to recovery of their deposits.
Plaintiffs here claim they are entitled to their deposits, fees, and costs, in this case in excess of $3.3 million, because Mona Lisa violated the various protections of § 718.202 and then failed to return plaintiffs’ deposits after plaintiffs attempted to void their contracts. Plaintiffs make the following claims regarding Mona Lisa’s § 718.202 violations: (1) Mona Lisa improperly withdrew funds from the Under 10% Escrow before the Director approved the surety bond that Mona Lisa secured as adequate assurance; (2) Mona Lisa received deposits from most purchasers in excess of 10% of the purchase prices of their units, but Mona Lisa failed to segregate or account for the deposits; (3) Mona Lisa improperly used funds from the Over 10% Escrow for sales and advertising purposes;
Mona Lisa Obtained a Proper Surety Bond Before Using Funds From the Under 10% Escrow
Plaintiffs first allege Mona Lisa violated Fla. Stat. § 718.202 by withdrawing funds from the Under 10% escrow before the Director approved Mona Lisa’s surety bond as alternate assurance. Because construction of the units was not completed when plaintiffs signed the purchase agreements, Mona Lisa was required to establish an escrow account for plaintiffs’ deposits up to 10% of the purchase price. Mona Lisa did this, as evidenced by the Escrow Agreement.
Defendants now have provided sufficient evidence to establish that Mona Lisa obtained the Director’s approval before it withdrew the deposits from the Under 10% Escrow. According to a letter from the Department of Business and Professional Regulations, on Nov. 22, 2006, the Director approved the surety bond as adequate assurance, which allowed Mona Lisa to withdraw the Under 10% Escrow deposits.
Mona Lisa Did Not Properly Segregate Plaintiffs’ Deposits
Plaintiffs next claim Mona Lisa failed to adequately segregate or classify deposits into escrow accounts as required by § 718.202(1) — (6). The Florida Condominium Act originally required a developer to physically segregate deposits into separate escrow accounts. A developer could not simply keep separate accountings for over 10% deposits. Although § 718.202 was amended in 2010, allowing a developer to either create separate escrow accounts for the over-and under-10% deposits, or, instead, hold all deposits in one account but maintain separate accounting for each buyer’s deposits, Mona Lisa is bound by the original requirements. Mona Lisa was required to keep the Under 10% Escrow amounts in a separate account from the Over 10% Escrow.
Mona Lisa has proven it created three escrow accounts to hold plaintiffs’ deposits. Prior to February 2006, Mona Lisa placed all deposits it received into Account # 7900086 (the “Reservation Account”).
Mona Lisa claims all transfers from the Under 10% Escrow to the Over 10% Escrow occurred promptly, within fifteen days after receipt of the deposits.
The record shows that in the heat of the real estate boom, some plaintiffs indeed made reservation deposits to reserve the right to purchase a particular unit before they signed a purchase contract.
Upon signing a contract, however, the statute requires prompt segregation of the deposits into separate escrows to protect a buyer’s deposits from misuse. Section 718.202(6) reads, “upon the execution of a purchase agreement for a unit, any funds paid by the purchaser as a deposit to reserve the unit pursuant to a reservation agreement, and any interest thereon, shall cease to be subject to the provisions of this subsection and shall instead be subject to the provisions of subsections (1) — (5).” Sections (1) and (3) require the classification into the over- and under-10% amounts.
Mona Lisa often failed to either classify or physically segregate some purchasers’ deposits promptly after they executed their purchase contracts. Plaintiffs Ajog-basile and Hill, purchasers of Unit 124, provide an example. Together these two plaintiffs contracted to purchase a unit, and, on April 28, 2005, they made their first reservation deposit with Mona Lisa for $12,500, which was placed in the Reservation Account. On June 21, 2005, they made another $24,900 payment. On September 25, 2005, they signed a contract to purchase Unit 124 for $349,000. With the execution of the contract and the determination of the purchase price, Mona Lisa and SunTrust were required by § 718.202 to transfer $34,900 of the total deposits from the Reservation Account to the Under 10% Escrow and $2,500 to the Over 10% Escrow. (Of course, these accounts were not even opened until February 2006.) Mona Lisa simply left these deposits in the Reservation Account for several months. In addition, even after signing the contract, on October 4, 2005, Mona Lisa took another deposit from Ajogbasile and Hill in the amount of $14,950 and comingled it in the Reservation Account.
Mona Lisa did not open the required escrow accounts until February 2006, over four months after Mr. Ajogbasile and Ms. Hill signed their purchase contract. Even though Mona Lisa never used any of the
Mona Lisa Improperly Used the Escrow Funds for Advertising Purposes
Plaintiffs next claim Mona Lisa violated § 718.202(3) by withdrawing funds from the Over 10% Escrow and improperly using them for expenses unrelated to construction and development. As already noted, the first subsection of § 718.202 protects the first 10% of a buyer’s deposit from loss by requiring a developer to hold it in escrow or obtain another form of assurance before those funds are to be released to the developer. Section 718.202(3) allows a developer to use the portion of buyers’ deposits over 10% of the purchase price
Plaintiffs claim “from July 6, 2007 through August 8, 2008, over $2,000,000 was transferred from the Over 10% Escrow to the Mona Lisa Project Account and used for improper purposes unrelated to construction of the project.”
Mona Lisa insists it used the Over 10% Escrow funds only for construction and development related expenses, and “only as permitted by Florida law.”
No court has decided under § 718.202 what expenses are properly associated with “actual construction and development.” Plaintiffs advocate for a narrow interpretation of the terms “construction and development” based on a dictionary definition that suggests “development” is “building or constructing on land.”
“Applying] the statute in a realistic, common sense manner that will preserve the basic contract rights of the parties while affording the purchaser the protection the legislature intended”
Second, professional fees and expenses are essential to the overall development of a real estate project. When a developer obtains a construction loan to develop a project, it commonly receives funding for development expenses because they are integral to the completion of a real estate project. Construction lenders anticipate these kinds of costs, and disburse funds to developers for all expenses related to the physical and non-physical aspects of developing a property.
The statute however contains a specific limitation — a developer cannot use the Over 10% Escrow monies for “salaries, commission, or expenses of salesperson or for advertising purposes.” On this point, the Court finds that, even broadly defining “construction and development costs,” Mona Lisa impermissibly used a portion of the plaintiffs’ deposits for advertising and sales related purposes. It paid rent on the Mona Lisa at Celebration Sales Center.
Advertising can take many forms, and the term should be construed within the meaning of the statute.
Mr. Haberman acknowledges in his affidavit that Mona Lisa simply deposited the Over 10% Escrow monies into Mona Lisa’s Operating or Project Account. Once deposited, the monies were irretrievably commingled so that it is impossible to determine if the rental center costs were borne by the plaintiffs or, as Mr. Haber-man argues, paid from other sources. This is similar to a husband and wife with separate bank accounts who also share a joint account. Once the monies are placed in the joint account, you cannot say one spouse versus the other paid the electric bill or bought the groceries.
The undisputed facts are that Mona Lisa placed all of the funds in the Over 10% Escrow account into its general operating account and that Mona Lisa paid the rental center costs from that account, which is an expense prohibited by § 718.202. Because monies, once commingled, are fungible, Mona Lisa cannot after the fact “reimburse” the expenses.
Mona Lisa’s use of plaintiffs’ deposits for sales center rent violates § 718.202(3). Because § 718.202 is a strict liability statute, Mona Lisa’s good faith efforts to comply with the statute do not negate its liability.
The Court acknowledges that the sanction to Mona Lisa in this case is a significant penalty for a relatively small infraction of the statute. Plaintiffs paying more than a 10% deposit can void their contracts and will receive their down payment (in full) with interest and attorney fees. The strict liability is appropriate because otherwise developers would have no incentive to meticulously comply with the laudatory purposes underlying the Florida Condominium Act — to insure that the purchasers’ deposits are used for the intended purpose of budding a condominium they can occupy. In this case, although Mona Lisa did complete construction, it did not comply with the use limitations imposed by § 718.202. All plaintiffs except one party paid deposits of over 10% of their purchase prices; all these plaintiffs are entitled to summary judgment on Count VII.
Factual Issues of Mona Lisa’s Good Faith Preclude Summary Judgment on Disclosure Breaches
Plaintiffs allege Mona Lisa violated § 718.202(3) because 11 of the purchase contracts failed to comply with its disclosure provisions.
ANY PAYMENT IN EXCESS OF 10 PERCENT OF THE PURCHASE PRICE MADE TO DEVELOPER PRIOR TO CLOSING PURSUANT TO THIS CONTRACT MAY BE USED FOR CONSTRUCTION PURPOSES BY THE DEVELOPER.
Mona Lisa concedes that 11 of the purchasers’ contracts do not contain the required disclosure on the first page, but offers no explanation for this failure. Instead, Mona Lisa argues the omission was unintentional and seeks the protection under the good faith exception in § 718.505.
Understandably, the disclosure requirements of the Act may cause some confusion. At first blush, § 718.202(3) appears to demand strict compliance because the intent of a disclosure is to make purchasers aware of a risk, for example, a risk that their deposits could be spent by a developer for construction purposes. Without this disclosure, purchasers would be unaware of the risk that their funds could be depleted by the developer, and once depleted, purchasers would have greater difficulty in recovering them upon a developer’s breach of contract.
A closer read of the entire Florida Condominium Act as a whole indicates certain errors or omissions, like the one in Cuel-lar, are excusable upon a showing of good faith. Section 718.505, “Good Faith Effort to Comply,” states that nonmaterial errors or omissions in the disclosure materials are not actionable “[i]f a developer, in good faith, has attempted to comply with the requirements of this part (Part V of the Condominium Act),
Read together, § 718.202 and § 718.505 require a developer to make a good faith effort to substantially comply with the disclosure requirements of the Act, which Mona Lisa claims it has done. Summary judgment on whether Mona Lisa acted in good faith or substantially complied with the disclosure provisions of the Florida Condominium Act is improper because “[a] trier of fact may need to weigh each of these factors separately or in relationship to each other in determining whether a developer substantially complied with section 718.202(3).”
Lack of prejudice alone is not sufficient justification to find summary judgment for defendants on this issue.
Plaintiffs next argue Mona Lisa impermissibly took interest earned on the escrow accounts prior to closing in violation of § 718.202(1).
Summary of Ruling on Florida Condominium Claims (Count VII)
In summary, although defendants are entitled to a summary finding that Mona Lisa did obtain the necessary surety bond and the Director’s approval before using the escrowed funds, and that Mona Lisa was entitled to use interest accruing on the escrowed funds, factual disputes preclude any summary finding as to whether Mona Lisa substantially complied with the disclosure requirements in the Florida Condominium Act. In the end, the Court will award summary judgment in favor of the plaintiffs on Count VII. Mona Lisa did not properly segregate the funds into the necessary accounts on a timely basis. More significantly, Mona Lisa used the plaintiffs deposits for improper advertising purposes. Therefore, pursuant to § 718.202(l)(a), buyers properly terminated their contracts, and Mona Lisa should have refunded plaintiffs’ deposits with interest.
Mona Lisa Failed to Submit the Updated Purchase Contracts for Division Approval (Count VIII)
Part V of the Florida Condominium Act titled “Regulation and Disclosure
Mona Lisa concedes “it did not file a copy of the post-March 2006 form Purchase Agreement with the Division,”
The Act defines “Residential condominium” as:
“a condominium consisting of two or more units, any of which are intended for use as a private temporary or permanent residence, except that a condominium is not a residential condominium if the use for which the units are intended is primarily commercial or industrial and not more than three units are intended to be used for private residence, and are intended to be used as housing for maintenance, managerial, janitorial, or other operational staff of the condominium. With respect to a condominium that is not a timeshare condominium, a residential unit includes a unit intended as a private temporary or permanent residence as well as a unit not intended for commercial or industrial use.”216
Plaintiffs first argue that the units are residential because they could be used for up to 179 days and were intended as a “private temporary residence.”
The Court finds the units are residential because they were intended primarily as private temporary residences for plaintiffs’ personal use, and not for rental or investment purpose. Mona Lisa cannot argue the units were intended to be commercial rental units without admitting that they also were intended to be purchased as investments. If this were true, Mona Lisa would be required to furnish registration statements under federal and state securities laws.
The Court therefore finds that the units are “residential” and not commercial.
Summary judgment is granted in favor of the plaintiffs who signed Updated Purchase Agreements, listed in Appendix D, under Count VIII. Their contracts are voidable, and plaintiffs are entitled to the refund of their deposits,
Mona Lisa Made No Adverse Alterations That Would Allow Buyers to Rescind Their Contracts (Count IX)
Florida Statute § 718.503(l)(a)(l) allows a condominium unit buyer to rescind a purchase agreement within 15 days “after the date of receipt from the developer of any amendment which materially alters or modifies the offering in a manner that is adverse to the purchaser.”
In Count IX, plaintiffs first allege Mona Lisa violated § 718.503(a)(1) by making materially adverse changes to the design of the development’s common areas.
As to the pool deck, plaintiffs contend Mona Lisa reduced the size of the deck area surrounding the common area pool to nearly half the size originally represented to them in the Prospectus.
Plaintiffs are grasping at straws by complaining about a spectacular pool deck that in all material respects was built as originally represented to them. The square footage of the entire area never changed; the capacity is as represented in the Prospectus — 150 people. Accordingly, the Court finds there were no changes made to the pool deck plans and representations, let alone any material adverse changes.
As to the elimination of the rooftop deck, plaintiffs argue that Mona Lisa represented to them in its promotional materials that there would be a fourth-floor observation deck on top of the hotel amenities building and that Mona Lisa’s decision not to build the roof deck materially and adversely affected the value of the project. Mona Lisa does not dispute that no roof deck was built, but they argue that eliminating the roof deck was not a material adverse change because they substituted other enhancements that added overall value to the project. Specifically, Mona Lisa substantially enlarged the restaurant and bar areas of the first floor of the hotel amenities building and built a covered balcony for dining on the second floor of the building.
As an initial matter, whether an amendment to a design plan is “material” and “adverse” under § 718.503 is determined by an objective standard.
Plaintiffs continue to rely on their argument set forth in their first motion for summary judgment, which cited three cases for the proposition that any reduction or elimination of amenities is a material and adverse change.
The one case cited by plaintiffs in which § 718.503 was at issue also fails to support plaintiffs’ argument.
Unlike the changes made to the pool deck in Mastaler, the changes Mona Lisa made to the hotel amenities building are not overtly either material or adverse. In that case, the court found that adding nine private cabanas around the pool deck unquestionably was adverse to plaintiff because the cabanas “hinderjed] his use of the common area around the pool.”
Whether the offset of the enhanced restaurant and bar area compensates for the removal of the roof deck is a factual issue. Defendants, unlike plaintiffs, have provided competent evidence in support of their request for summary judgment to establish that the hotel amenities building redesign was neither material nor adverse, and, moreover, was a value additive change. Mr. Haberman, Mona Lisa’s managing member, in his affidavit,
Mona Lisa has provided convincing evidence that the changes, while perhaps material, were certainly not adverse to buyers. Under Rule 56(e), plaintiffs then had the burden to come forward with some facts, affidavits, or other evidence to establish a genuine issue of material fact for trial. In response, however, plaintiffs did not submit anything to rebut Haberman’s statements that the change increased the value of the project. Nowhere does plaintiffs’ expert, Daniel Robinson, opine that the overall value of the hotel amenities building was adversely impacted as a result of the redesign.
Defendants also are entitled to summary judgment as to plaintiffs’ claim that it failed to deliver a prospectus and disclosure statement with all exhibits.
Mona Lisa Made No Materially False or Misleading Representations (Count X)
Florida Statute § 718.506 provides condominium purchasers a cause of action for rescission of a condominium purchase agreement when a purchaser reasonably relies on any false material statement by a developer. To state a cause of action for rescission under Fla. Stat. § 718.506, a party must establish: (1) a false or misleading statement; (2) the
As to the size of the pool deck, plaintiffs’ claim is unfounded because, as the Court already has found, the size of the pool deck is as represented in the Prospectus. Plaintiffs’ argument is based entirely on the fact that the Prospectus promised a pool deck of approximately 23,-500 square feet, and the pool deck as built is comprised of approximately 12,036 square feet of hard concrete pavers and about 11,500 square feet of landscaping features. But, again, nothing in the Prospectus promised 23,500 square feet of un-landscaped, bare deck space. The pool deck was built exactly to the specifications provided to plaintiffs in the Prospectus. The Court accordingly finds that Mona Lisa’s statements regarding the pool deck were not false or misleading in any way.
As to the rooftop deck allegations, Mona Lisa’s statements were not false or misleading because Mona Lisa did intend to build, at the time the representations were made, a rooftop deck. A statement is false or misleading only if it was false or misleading at the time it was made.
Plaintiffs next allege that Mona Lisa made material misstatements in its promotional materials concerning the size of
Plaintiffs’ contention that a material issue of fact exists as to whether the units were actually built to specifications also is not supported by any evidence. Plaintiffs have simply alleged that it is possible the units were not built to specifications and request time to examine the units; but they cannot establish a genuine issue of material fact for trial on bare allegations alone. Under Rule 56, on a motion for summary judgment, conclusory allegations — without specific supporting facts — have no probative value.
Lastly, plaintiffs for the first time claim Mona Lisa falsely represented that the units would be furnished with all appliances, furniture, and decorative items to be selected by Mona Lisa. Again, plaintiffs provide no facts as to what furnishings are missing or how any missing furnishings, if any, materially or adversely affected plaintiffs’ ownership interests.
Factual Issues Exist as to Plaintiff Lieberman’s Unique Claims (Counts XVII-XX)
Ms. Lieberman, a plaintiff in the Bennett Adversary Proceeding, makes additional allegations in Counts XVII-XX that she is entitled to rescission due to Mona Lisa’s misrepresentations about her specific unit. She claims Mona Lisa either falsely, fraudulently, negligently, or mistakenly represented that, for a cost upgrade, she would be receiving a unit with a pool view, when in fact, the cabana-style restrooms obstruct her view of the pool.
Defendants are Entitled to Partial Summary Judgment as to Per Se Violations of the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act (Counts XI, XII, and XIII)
The Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act (the “FDUTPA”) provides that a violation of any law, statute, rule or ordinance that proscribes unfair methods of competition, or unfair, deceptive, or unconscionable acts or practices, is a per se violation of FDUTPA.
Plaintiffs assert three counts raising per se FDUTPA violations — Counts XI, XII, and XIII. In Count XI, plaintiffs have alleged per se violations of FDUTPA based on the alleged violations of ILSFDA (Counts I-IV), § 77e of the 1933 Securities Act (Count V), Fla. Stat. § 517 (Count VI), Fla. Stats. §§ 718.202 (Count VII), 718.502(Count VIII) 718.503 (Count IX), 718.506 (Count X). In Count XII, plaintiffs have alleged per se violations of FDUTPA under Fla. Stat. 190.048. In Count XIII, plaintiffs have alleged per se violations of FDUTPA under 16 CFR § 460.16 (Count XIII). Defendants are entitled to summary judgment as to Counts XII and XIII, and for the majority of Count XI. Summary judgment is premature and therefore denied as to Mona Lisa’s possible violation of 15 U.S.C. § 1703(c) (ILSFDA) until the Court determines whether or not the units are “lots.” Predicate Claims — ILSFDA (Count XI)
Plaintiffs are correct that any violation of ILSFDA, a consumer protection statute, is a per se violation of FDUTPA.
All of the plaintiffs’ other FDUT-PA claims relying on ILSFDA fail, however, because plaintiffs cannot establish a predicate violation under ILSFDA. First, no other predicate ILSFDA violation exists because plaintiffs’ claims either are time barred or their purchase contracts are exempt.
Other Predicate Acts (Count XI)
Plaintiffs also have alleged predicate violations under the 1933 Securities Act, Florida Chapter 517, and the Florida Condominium Act, Fla. Stat. §§ 718.202, 718.503, 718.504, and 718.506. None of these statutes can serve as predicate violations for a claim under FDUTPA. First, the statutes simply do not proscribe unfair methods of competition and are not encompassed within the penumbra of consumer protection statutes covered by FDUTPA. They instead govern the use of plaintiffs’ deposits held in escrow and other technical requirements unrelated to any unfair or deceptive trade practice.
Second, in accordance with the Court’s rulings above, plaintiffs cannot establish a predicate violation under the 1933 Securities Act, Florida Chapter 517, or Fla. Stats. §§ 718.503, 718.506. The Court already has held that Mona Lisa did not violate any of these statutes and, therefore, no predicate act exists. As such, defendants are entitled to summary judgment as to Count XI as to claims plaintiffs argue arose from any non-ILSFDA statute.
Mona Lisa is Not Bound by Community Development District Requirements (Count XII)
Plaintiffs next claim in Count XII that Mona Lisa violated Fla. Stat. § 190.048, which is a per se FDUTPA violation. Florida Statute § 190.048 requires a developer to disclose to purchasers that their units are located in and subject to a Corn-
Accordingly, Mona Lisa has not violated § 190.048, because it does not apply. Plaintiffs cannot establish a per se FDUT-PA violation using this statute to establish a predicate act. Defendants are entitled to summary judgment under Count XII.
Mona Lisa Made Required Insulation Disclosures — Count XIII
Similarly, plaintiffs cannot establish a per se violation under Count XIII. 16 CFR § 460.16 requires a developer to disclose the thickness and R-value of the insulation used in construction in plaintiffs’ contracts.
To summarize, summary judgment is denied as to Mona Lisa’s ILSFDA violation for failure to disclose plaintiffs’ two year revocation rights until the issue of “lots” is determined (Count XI). Defendants are entitled to summary judgment as to all plaintiffs’ other FDUTPA claims in Counts XI, XII, and XIII because plaintiffs have failed to establish a predicate violation.
Mona Lisa had No Disclosure Obligation under Florida Statute § 720.401(l)(a) (Count XIV)
Plaintiffs claim in Count XIV that Mona Lisa violated Fla. Stat. § 720.401(l)(a) by failing to include a disclosure summary revealing that each plaintiffs unit is located within a community subject to an association membership.
Mona Lisa Breached Its Contractual Obligations (Count XV)
In Count XV, plaintiffs allege Mona Lisa ■ breached the purchase agreements by (1) failing to provide purchasers with the legal opportunity to close on the Estimated Closing Date, (2) failing to use plaintiffs’ deposits in accordance with the Florida Condominium Act, and (3) making material misrepresentations regarding the development’s amenities.
Mona Lisa Breached the Original Purchase Agreements by Failing to Properly Notify Plaintiffs of Changes to the Estimated Closing Date
Plaintiffs argue that Mona Lisa breached the Original Purchase Agreements by failing to close on the Estimated Closing Date. Specifically, plaintiffs claim time was of the essence for Mona Lisa to close on the Estimated Closing Date, and, alternatively, Mona Lisa failed to provide plaintiffs with appropriate notice of delays in the Estimated Closing Date by certified mail as required by the purchase contracts. Defendants argue in response that plaintiffs’ breach of contract claim fails as a matter of law because the Estimated Closing Date was only an estimate, Mona Lisa reserved the right in Paragraph 8(a) of the purchase agreements to delay closing for any reason, and plaintiffs cannot show damages. The Court will address both parties’ arguments in turn.
Under Florida law, the elements of a breach of contract claim are (1) a valid contract, (2) a material breach, and (3) damages, unless proof of damages is altered by the parties’ agreement.
The disputed time of the essence provision in the purchase agreements, Paragraph 26, reads in full:
Time is of the essence for making all payments due under this Contract, and for the dosing of this transaction. Time for Purchaser’s performance of all other obligations hereunder may be made of the essence by Seller giving not less than five (5) days’ advance written notice to Purchaser.” (Emphasis added).
Plaintiffs contend that the Estimated Closing Dates specified in Paragraph 8(a) of the purchase agreements
Here, the Original Purchase Agreements had no firm commitment to close on the Estimated Closing Date. Paragraph 8(a) of the purchase agreements expressly allows Mona Lisa to delay closing until “such later date ... as may be set by Seller.” The Court cannot find that the Estimated Closing Date was, as a matter of law, the date by which Mona Lisa was required to close. Given that Mona Lisa could extend the closing date at will, the Court cannot find that time was of the essence as implied by Paragraph 26 of the purchase agreements. If time was not of the essence, plaintiffs, under Florida contract law, need to establish they demanded performance from Mona Lisa within a rea
To support its claim that time was not of the essence, Mona Lisa argues a reasonable developer would not have committed to a defined closing date in a contract because delays are common and expected in the construction industry.
Plaintiffs next argue Mona Lisa breached Paragraph 8 of the Original Purchase Agreements by failing to properly and timely give the required fifteen days’ notice to the plaintiffs of any extension of the Estimated Closing Date.
Many plaintiffs have sworn they never received a single notice from Mona Lisa extending the Estimated Closing Date.
Mona Lisa claims that it repeatedly notified plaintiffs of the delays in construction and closing;
Similarly, none of the letters sent via Fed Ex were addressed to any particular plaintiff. They are all addressed to “Buyer” and offer no address or contact information whatsoever.
Contrary to Mona Lisa’s contention, plaintiffs are not required to prove they were harmed by this breach. As plaintiffs point out, Paragraph 13 of the purchase agreements gives the purchasers the right to terminate the contract and receive a full refund of all deposits paid in the event Mona Lisa fails to perform its obligations under the contract.
Mona Lisa Breached the Purchase Agreements by Improperly Handling Plaintiff’s Escrow Deposits
Plaintiffs next argue that, as asserted in Count VII, Mona Lisa improperly used and failed to properly segregate plaintiffs’ deposits and failed to account for them properly, which also constitutes a breach of contract because Paragraphs 1, 7, and 8(a) of the purchase agreements similarly restrict Mona Lisa from using the deposits in violation of Fla. Stat. § 718.202. The Court already has held above that Mona Lisa indeed did fail to comply with § 718.202, and Mona Lisa is liable to the plaintiffs for the return of the deposits with interest and the payment of reasonable attorney fees and costs. The Court now extends that ruling to conclude that the same violation constitutes a breach of contract for which the plaintiffs are entitled to similar relief. Plaintiffs are granted summary judgment as to this portion of Count XV.
Mona Lisa However Did Not Breach the Purchase Agreements by Making any Materially Adverse Changes
Plaintiffs next assert that the allegations regarding Mona Lisa’s misrepresentations regarding aspects of the condominium development (i.e., the size of the pool deck and elimination of the rooftop deck), which formed the basis for their claims under Count IX, also establish a breach of contract because Paragraph 27(g) of the purchase agreements mirrors the statutory language of Fla. Stat. § 718.503. Because the Court has ruled in favor of defendants on Count IX, determining that the allegedly material adverse changes were not in fact adverse, the Court also has determined that Mona Lisa did not breach Paragraph 27(g) of the purchase agreements. On this point, defendants are entitled to partial summary judgment as to this part of Count XV.
In Count XVI, plaintiffs seek declaratory relief finding that (1) SunTrust, the escrow agent, is liable to the plaintiffs for any amounts awarded by the Court; (2) Westchester, issuer of the surety bond, similarly is liable to plaintiffs for any amounts awarded by the Court; (3) plaintiffs’ deposits are not Mona Lisa’s property or property of Mona Lisa’s bankruptcy estate; and (4) plaintiffs are entitled to the immediate return of their full deposits, plus interest, attorney fees, costs, and any other relief the Court may deem just and proper.
SunTrust is not Liable to Plaintiffs
As discussed earlier in the analysis of Count VII, SunTrust did fail to comply with the terms of the escrow agreement
Westchester Must Pay Plaintiff’s Deposits under the Surety Bond
Plaintiffs next argue that West-chester, as a matter of law, must pay the amounts of any deposits the Court awards in these proceedings. The Court agrees. Paragraph 4 of the surety agreement obligates Westchester to pay the full amount of plaintiffs’ deposits that Mona Lisa fails to pay.
When PRINCIPAL [Mona Lisa] fails to refund deposits as required by Chapter 718, Florida Statutes, and/or agreements with buyers, ESCROW AGENT [Sun-Trust] or the DIVISION may declare this Bond in default and SURETY [Westchester] is required to disburse funds in the amount of refund deposits that are due and payable, within 30 days by SURETY, as a debt to ESCROW AGENT or DIVISION, the amount being payable subject to any reductions in the face amount calculated pursuant to Paragraph 5 herein.307
Westchester argues that the recital clauses of the surety agreement limit Westchester’s obligation to pay only the amount of plaintiffs’ deposits equal to or less than 10% of the purchase price.
Deposits are Not Property of the Mona Lisa Bankruptcy Estate
Federal bankruptcy law determines what assets are included in property of a bankruptcy estate. But state law determines the extent and validity of a debtor’s interest in those assets.
Whether the deposits become property of the estate depends on the nature of the escrow agreement.
Plaintiffs argue their deposits are not property of Mona Lisa’s bankruptcy estate.
Plaintiffs are entitled to recover their deposits with interest, costs, and fees from Mona Lisa.
CONCLUSION
Plaintiffs are entitled to final summary judgment as to part of Count VII, Count VIII, part of Count XI, and part of count XV. Defendants are entitled to summary judgment as to Counts V, VI, IX, X, XII, XIII, XIV, and partial summary judgment as to Counts I-IV, VII, XI, and XV. Summary judgment is denied for both parties as to part of Counts I-IV, XI, and XVII-XX. A separate order consistent with this Memorandum Opinion shall be entered.
DONE AND ORDERED.
ORDER ON CROSS MOTIONS FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT
Plaintiffs in these four consolidated adversary proceedings filed numerous complaints against defendants alleging twenty causes of action. Plaintiffs have moved for summary judgment on Counts I-IV, VII, VIII, XI, XV, and XVI of the complaints, and defendants have moved for summary judgment on all counts of the complaints. Consistent with the Memorandum Opinion on the Cross Motions for Summary Judgment, entered simultaneously, it is
ORDERED:
1. Final summary judgment on Counts I-IV is granted in favor of*663 the defendants as to all plaintiffs listed on Appendixes A, C, and D, attached to the Memorandum Opinion, and as to all plaintiffs listed on Appendix E, attached to the Memorandum Opinion, as to all claims asserted under the ILSFDA, except the one remaining claim asserted under 15 U.S.C. § 1703(c).
2.Both plaintiffs’ and defendants’ motions for summary judgment on Counts I-IY are denied as to plaintiffs listed on Appendix E, attached to the Memorandum Opinion, asserting a claim under 15 U.S.C. § 1703(c) because a material issue of fact exists as to whether or not the units are “lots.”
3.Final summary judgment is granted for defendants on Counts V, VI, IX, X, XII, XIII, and XIV.
4. As to Count VII, although defendants are entitled to final summary judgment that Mona Lisa obtained a proper surety bond before using funds from the Under 10% Escrow and was entitled to earn interest on the escrow funds, plaintiffs are entitled to final summary judgment that Mona Lisa did not properly segregate plaintiffs’ deposits and improperly used the escrow funds for advertising purposes under § 718.202 of the Florida Statutes. Plaintiffs are entitled to the full recovery of the deposits, interest, costs, and reasonable attorney fees. Factual disputes preclude summary judgment in favor of either party as to Mona Lisa’s good faith on disclosure breaches of the Florida Condominium Act.
5. Final summary judgment as to Count VIII is granted in favor of plaintiffs who signed Updated Purchase Agreements, listed on Appendix D, attached to the Memorandum Opinion, and denied as to defendants.
6. Final summary judgment as to Count XI is granted in favor of defendants on all allegations except as to Mona Lisa’s possible violation of 15 U.S.C. § 1703(c) (ILSFDA) until the determination is made as to whether or not the units are “lots” under Counts I-IV, as referenced in paragraph 2 above.
7. Final summary judgment as to Count XV is entered in favor of plaintiffs and against defendants.
8. As to Count XVI for Declaratory Relief:
a. SunTrust is not liable to plaintiffs.
b. Plaintiffs’ deposits are not property of debtor’s bankruptcy estate.
c. Plaintiffs are entitled to recover their deposits, with interest, and reasonable costs and fees from Mona Lisa as unsecured creditors and pursuant to Mona Lisa’s confirmed Plan of Reorganization.1 Westchester is liable to plaintiffs under the surety agreement for the lesser of the total of plaintiffs’ deposits or $6,575,000.
9. On or before June 15, 2012, plaintiffs are directed to file a statement of their reasonable costs and fees incurred in connection with these adversary proceedings, together with any supporting documentation and a proposed final judgment.
10.As to Counts XVII-XX, brought by a single plaintiff, Ms. Lieberman, material factual disputes preclude defendants’ request for summary judgment as a matter of law.
*664 11. A pretrial conference is scheduled for June 19, 2012, at 2:00 p.m., at the United States Bankruptcy Court, 5th Floor, Courtroom B, 135 W. Central Blvd., Orlando, FL 32801. The Court then will consider the parties’ position as to whether further mediation is merited and scheduling evidentiary hearings needed to resolve all remaining sues.
DONE AND ORDERED.
. Defendants, in addition to Mona Lisa, include its surety bond issuer, Westchester Fire Insurance Company, and the escrow agent for plaintiffs' deposits, SunTrust Bank. Unless noted otherwise, all references to docket numbers are to those in the Bruno Adversary 9-ap-49.
. Doc. No. 177.
. All plaintiffs paid deposits in amounts over 10% of their purchase prices except the Byrnes, who paid deposits totaling exactly 10% of the purchase price for their two units, 303 and 319.
. As set forth in their Amended Complaints, the Bruno plaintiffs paid deposits totaling $1,433,825; the Dodsworth plaintiffs paid deposits of $572,550; the McKibbin plaintiffs paid deposits totaling $404,000; and the Bennett plaintiffs paid deposits totaling $966,000, for a total of $3,376,765.
. The surety bond originally was in the amount of $5,000,000, effective December 1, 2006. On December 1, 2007, Westchester issued a rider increasing the surety bond amount to $6,575,000. Doc. No. 125, Exhibit 3.
. Doc. No. 125, Exhibit 5.
. None of these owners are plaintiffs in this proceeding.
. Doc. No. 44 in 6:08-cv-735-orl-KRS.
. The District Court actions were stayed (Doc. No. 56 in 6:08-cv-735-orl-KRS) pending resolution of plaintiffs' motions for relief from stay to proceed with the lawsuits (Doc. Nos. 33, 42, and 43 in the main bankruptcy case), and administratively closed shortly thereafter on February 2, 2009. This Court denied the motions for relief from stay on May 15, 2009 (Doc. No. 138 in 6:09-bk-00458-KSJ).
. On February 25, 2009, 36 plaintiffs filed Adversary Proceeding No. 9-ap-49 (the "Bruno Plaintiffs”) seeking $1,434,000 in damages. Three later adversary proceedings were filed. On May 26, 2009, 14 plaintiffs filed Adversary Proceeding No. 9-ap-769 (the “Dodsworth Plaintiffs”) seeking $573,000 in damages. On May 25, 2009, seven plaintiffs filed Adversary Proceeding No. 9-ap-770 (the "McKibbin Plaintiffs”) seeking $404,000 in damages. On August 26, 2009, 14 plaintiffs filed Adversary Proceeding No. 9-ap-859 ("the Bennett Plaintiffs”) seeking $966,000 in damages. Mona Lisa was named as the sole defendant in the first eight counts of the complaints. Count IX was only asserted against BankFirst, who plaintiffs later voluntarily dismissed as a defendant pursuant to the four Joint Stipulations of Dismissal of Defendant BankFirst Only {see e.g., Doc. No. 147). Count X sought declaratory relief against Mona Lisa, SunTrust, and Westches-ter, collectively. Plaintiffs from the first two adversary proceedings and the three remaining defendants then filed cross motions for summary judgment on Counts I-VIII and Count X.
.The Bruno and Dodsworth initial complaints both alleged the same 10 causes of action against Mona Lisa:
Count I: Interstate Land Sales Full Disclosure Act (15 U.S.C. § 1703);
Count II: 1933 Securities Act (15 U.S.C. § 77a);
Count III: Florida Securities and Investor Protection Act (Fla. Stat. § 517.01 et seq.);
Count IV: Florida Condominium Act (Fla. Stat. § 718.202);
Count V: Florida Condominium Act (Fla. Stat. § 718.503);
Count VI: Florida Condominium Act (Fla. Stat. § 718.506);
*597 Count VII: Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act (Fla. Stat. § 501.201 et seq.);
Count VIII: Breach of Contract;
Count IX: Equitable Lien;
Count X: Declaratory Judgment.
. Doc. Nos. 153-154.
. In re Mona Lisa, 436 B.R. 179 (Bankr.M.D.Fla. 2010). Count IX, asserted against BankFirst, was dismissed. The Dodsworth Plaintiffs appealed the Court’s ruling. Doc. No. 158. District Court Judge Mary Scriven dismissed the interlocutory appeal without prejudice. Case No.: 6-10-cv-1352-Orl-35.
. In connection with Count X, the Court addresses Counts XVII-XX regarding plaintiff Lieberman’s claims that Mona Lisa misrepresented his unit’s location behind the cabana restrooms.
. Doc. Nos. 153-154.
. Doc No. 205; Response (Doc. No. 223); Joinder in Westchester's Response, filed by Mona Lisa (Doc No. 222).
. Doc. No. 207. Reply to Westchester Fire Insurance Company and Mona Lisa at Celebration, LLC's Responses to Motions for Summary Judgment and Supporting Memorandum of Legal Authority, filed by Plaintiffs (Doc. No. 231); Joinder in 6:09-ap-0770 and 6:09-ap-0859 Plaintiffs' Memorandum in Opposition and Response to Motions for Summary Judgment by Defendants Mona Lisa at Celebration, LLC and Westchester Fire Insurance Company and Supporting Memorandum of Legal Authority, filed by Plaintiffs (Doc No. 219); Reply memorandum of law in further support of its motion for summary judgment, filed by Defendant Westchester Fire Insurance Company (Doc. No. 228); Joinder in Westchester Fire Insurance Company's Reply Memorandum of Law in Further Support of its Motion for Summary Judgment, filed by Defendant Mona Lisa at Celebration, LLC (Doc. No. 229).
. Doc. No. 232.
. Fed.R.Civ.P. 56.; Fed. R. Bankr.P. 7056.
. Fitzpatrick v. Schiltz (In re Schiltz), 97 B.R. 671, 672 (Bankr.N.D.Ga. 1986).
. Evers v. General Motors Corp. 770 F.2d 984, 986 (11th Cir. 1985).
. Id.
. Scott v. Harris, 550 U.S. 372, 380, 127 S.Ct. 1769, 167 L.Ed.2d 686 (2007).
. Matsushita Elec. Industrial Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 587, 106 S.Ct. 1348, 89 L.Ed.2d 538 (1986).
. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986).
. 15 U.S.C. § 1701 etseq.
. ILSFDA generally applies to the sale of "lots” that are part of a sales program of 100 or more lots offered pursuant to a common promotional plan. 61 Fed. Reg. 13,601-02 (1996).
. See James Oliver, Beyond Consumer Protection: The Application of the Interstate Land Sales Full Disclosure Act to Condominium Sales, 37 UFLLR 945 (1985).
. Gentry v. Harborage Cottages Stuart, LLLP, 654 F.3d 1247, 1258 (11th Cir. 2011).
. See James Oliver, 37 UFLLR 945 (1985) Beyond Consumer Protection: The Application of the Interstate Land Sales Full Disclosure Act to Condominium Sales.
. Doc. No. 39 in Case No. 9-ap-859.
. Section 1703(b) unconditionally allows a purchaser to revoke a contract until midnight of the seventh day following the signing of such contract, and § 1703(c) allows a purchaser to revoke a contract until within two years following the signing of such contract if a developer does not provide a property report to the purchaser.
. Doc. No. 39 in 9-ap-859.
. Doc. No. 208.
. 61 Fed. Reg. 13, 601-02 (1996).
. 15 U.S.C. § 1703(a).
. Mona Lisa, 436 B.R. at 189 n. 19.
. See Mona Lisa, 436 B.R. at 189.
. McKibbin and Bennett Plaintiffs in Case Nos. 9-ap-770 and 9-ap-859, respectively.
. Mona Lisa at 189-190 (adopting Taylor v. Holiday Isle, 561 F.Supp.2d 1269 (S.D.Ala. 2008)). The Taylor reasoning also was adopted by numerous other courts, as noted in Harari v. Seymour Int’l, Inc., Case 6:09-cv-01277-ACC-GJK (February 8, 2009).
.Gentry v. Harborage Cottages-Stuart, LLLP, 654 F.3d 1247 (11th Cir. 2011).
. Gentry, 654 F.3d at 1262.
. Gentry, 654 F.3d at 1262; Taylor v. Holiday Isle, LLC, 561 F.Supp.2d 1269, 1276 (S.D.Ala. 2008); Mona Lisa, 436 B.R., at 190 (rejecting Plaza Court L.P. v. Baker-Chaput, 17 So.3d 720 (Fla.App. 5th Dist. 2009)).
. Mona Lisa, 436 B.R. at 190 (citing Gilmore v. Residences at Sandpearl Resort, LLC, 2008 WL 4426705, at *1 (M.D.Fla. September 26, 2008); Taylor 561 F.Supp.2d at 1271-72 & n. 8; Bush v. Bahia Sun Associates LP, 2009 WL 963133, at *12 (M.D. Fla. April 8, 2009)).
. 15 U.S.C. § 1711(b).
. Gentry, 654 F.3d at 1262.
. See Gentry, 602 F.Supp.2d at 1248-49 (citing the guidelines for ILSFDA describing certain exemptions: "An exemption is available because of the presence of already completed homes on certain lots that met the requirements of § 1702(a)(2), leaving the remaining lots exempt under the One Hundred Lot exemption. ... The Guidelines provide another example where certain lots were exempt because they had preexisting residential structures already erected, while others lots were to be sold to contractors or reserved for construction of homes by the developer. The exemption of these lots qualified the remaining lots for the One Hundred Lot exemption.” Guidelines for Exemptions Available Under the Interstate Land Sales Full Disclosure Act, 61 Fed. Reg. 13596-01, Part 7010).
. 15 U.S.C. § 1702(a)(2).
. 15 U.S.C. § 1702(a)(5).
. 15 U.S.C. § 1702(a)(2).
. Adams-Lipa v. TDS Town Homes (Phase I) LLC, 2009 WL 1850267 at *3 (M.D.Fla. June 25, 2009) (citing Harvey v. Lake Buena Vista Resort, LLC, 568 F.Supp.2d 1354, 1362 (M.D.Fla. 2008)).
. 15 U.S.C. § 1702(b).
. Doc. No. 39 at 8 in 9-ap-859.
. Guidelines for Exemptions under the Interstate Land Sales Full Disclosure Act, 44 Fed. Reg. 24.010, 24.012 (1979).
. Id.
. Stein, 586 F.3d at 858 (citing Port Largo Club, Inc. v. Warren, 476 So.2d 1330, 1333 (Fla.App.Dist.3d. 1985)). Impunity means “an exemption or protection from punishment.” Black's Law Dictionary 774 (8th Ed. 2004).
.Guidelines for Exemptions Available Under the Interstate Land Sales Full Disclosure Act, 61 Fed. Reg. 13,596 (Mar. 27, 1996) (emphasis added); Stein, 586 F.3d at 858 (citing Atteberry v. Maumelle Co., 60 F.3d 415, 420 (8th Cir. 1995)).
. Doc. 125 Exhibit 7.
. Stein v. Paradigm Mirasol, LLC, 586 F.3d 849 (11th Cir. 2009) (clause stated that "... Seller shall not be responsible for any delay caused by acts of God, weather conditions, restrictions imposed by any governmental agency, labor strikes, material shortages or other delays beyond the control of the seller ...”); see also Rondini v. Evernia Properties, LLLP, 2008 WL 793512, No. 07-81077-CIV (S.D.Fla. Feb. 13, 2008).
. Stein, 586 F.3d at 857-58; see also Kamel v. Kenco/The Oaks at Boca Raton LP, 321 Fed.Appx. 807 (11th Cir. 2008).
. Van Hook v. the Residences at Coconut Point, LLC, 364 Fed.Appx. 549 (11th Cir. 2010).
. Aikin v. WCI Communities, Inc., 26 So.3d 691, 697 (Fla.App.Dist.2d 2010); see also Jankus v. Edge Investors, L.P., 650 F.Supp.2d 1248, 1255-56 (S.D.Fla. 2009).
. The two doctrines are interrelated. Impossibility "refers to those factual situations, too numerous to catalog, where the purposes, for which the contract was made, have, on one side, become impossible to perform.” Crown Ice Machine Leasing Co. v. Sam Senter Farms, Inc., 174 So.2d 614, 617 (Fla.App.Dist.2d 1965). Frustration arises when "one of the parties finds that the purpose for which he bargained, and which purposes were known to the other party, have been frustrated because of the failure of consideration, or impossibility of performance by the other party.” Crown Ice Machine Leasing Co. v. Sam Senter Farms, Inc., 174 So.2d 614, 617 (Fla.App.Dist.2d 1965).
. Ryan v. WCI Communities Inc., 2008 WL 2557541, No. 3:08cv4/MCR (N.D. Fla. June 23, 2008); Gentry v. Harborage Cottages-Stuart, LLLP, 602 F.Supp.2d 1239, 1245 (S.D.Fla. 2009); Snavely Siesta Assocs., LLC v. Senker, 34 So.3d 813 (Fla. 2010).
. Samara Dev. Corp. v. Marlow, 556 So.2d 1097 (Fla. 1990). Plaintiffs also cite to two other distinguishable cases. In Schatz v. Jockey Club Phase III, Ltd. 604 F.Supp. 537, 541—42 (S.D.Fla. 1985), the contractual provision specifically stated buyers had no remedy if the developer failed to complete construction on time. In Dorchester Development, 439 So.2d 1032 (Fla.App.Dist.3d 1983), the contractual provision never promised a completion date but instead gave buyers an option to cancel the contract if construction was not finished within two years. Neither contract imposed a binding two-year completion commitment on the developer and are not persuasive.
. See, e.g. Hardwick Properties, Inc. v. Newbern, 711 So.2d 35, 39-40 (Fla.App.Dist. 1st 1998).
. Aikin v. WCI Communities, Inc., 26 So.3d 691, 697 (Fla.App.Dist.2d 2010), quoting Mailloux v. Briella Townhomes, LLC, 3 So.3d 394, 396 (Fla.Dist.Ct.App. 4th 2009); see also Snavely Siesta Assocs., LLC v. Senker, 34 So.3d 813 (Fla. 2010) (force majeure clause limited to impossibility or frustration of purpose does not preclude a sales contract qualifying for the § 1702(a) exemption).
. Home Devco/Tivoli Isles, LLC v. Silver, 26 So.3d 718, 723 (Fla.App.Dist. 4th 2010).
. 15 U.S.C. § 1702(a).
. Gentry, 602 F.Supp.2d at 1247-48 (disagreeing with the 8th Circuit's holding in Atteberry, 60 F.3d at 421 (8th Cir. 1995) that a plaintiff must make a showing of fraudulent intent to evade the statute).
. Bodansky v. Fifth on the Park Condo, LLC, 732 F.Supp.2d 281, 292 (S.D.N.Y. January 29, 2010).
. Gentry, 654 F.3d at 1257 (citing Gently, 602 F.Supp.2d at 1247).
. Gentry, 654 F.3d at 1257.
. Id. at 1259.
. Id.
. Double AA Int’l Investment Group, Inc. v. Swire Pacific Holdings, Inc., 674 F.Supp.2d 1344, 1355 (S.D.Fla. 2009).
. Swire, 674 F.Supp.2d at 1355.
. Doc. No. 125, ¶ 20.
. As an aside, the Court notes that adding Paragraph 3 did not simply exempt Mona Lisa from ILSFDA. The provision imposed an additional burden on Mona Lisa to complete construction within two years providing greater protections for buyers by mandating completion within a relatively short period of time.
. Doc. No. 125 Exhibit 7.
. Stein, 586 F.3d 849 (11th Cir. 2009).
. Barry v. Midtown Miami No. 4, LLC, 651 F.Supp.2d 1320, 1324 (S.D.Fla. 2008); Rondini v. Evernia Properties, LLLP, 2008 WL 793512, No. 07-81077-CIV (S.D.Fla. Feb. 13, 2008).
. See, e.g., Hardwick Properties, Inc. v. Newbern, 711 So.2d 35, 39-40 (Fla.App.Dist. 1st 1998).
. Doc. No. 127 Exhibit 7, at 6.
. 586 F.3d 849 (11th Cir. 2009).
. Doc. No. 125 Exhibit 1, at ¶ 24.
. Adams-Lipa, 2009 WL 1850267 at *4-5. Against the weight of authority, plaintiffs rely on Dalzell v. Trailhead, a District of Colorado case that found a similar casualty provision rendered the purchase contract illusory. Doc. No. 39 at 9-10 in 9-ap-859 (citing Dalzell v. Trailhead, 2010 WL 3843464 (D. Colo. Sept. 27, 2010)). The developer agreed to construct within two years, but the case does not clarify whether any provision included an out for "recognizable contract defenses.” See Adams-Lipa, 2009 WL 1850267 at *4-5, See also Stein 586 F.3d at 849 (noting that because the clause “or any other similar causes not within Seller’s control” follows events listed before it — events which provide a recognized defense to a claim for contractual breach under Florida law — the clause can be construed as covering only events which are beyond the seller's control).
. Restatement of Contract § 235(c) (1932): Rules Aiding Application of Standards of Interpretation ("A writing is interpreted as a whole and all writings forming part of the same transaction are interpreted together”); Antar v. Seamiles, LLC, 994 So.2d 439 (Fla.App.Dist.3d. 2008) (citing Gen. Star Indem. Co. v. W. Fla. Vill. Inn, Inc., 874 So.2d 26, 30 (Fla.App.Dist.2d 2004) for the proposition
. See Stefan v. Singer Island Condominiums Ltd., 2009 WL 426291 (S.D.Fla. Feb. 20, 2009).
. Doc. No. 125 Exhibit 7 at II 10(b).
. Id.
. Doc. No. 125 Exhibit 7, at Section 10(c).
. Stefan, 2009 WL 426291 at *2 ("Seller agrees to substantially complete construction of the Unit, in the manner specified in this Agreement by a date no later than two (2) years from the date Buyer signs this Agreement, subject, however, only to delays caused by matters which are legally recognized as defenses to contract actions in the jurisdiction where the Building is being erected.”).
. Stefan, 2009 WL 426291 at *8.
. Dorchester, 439 So.2d 1032, 1034.
. See Restatement of Contracts § 265 Discharge by Supervening Frustration: ("Where, after a contract is made, a party's principal purpose is substantially frustrated without his fault by the occurrence of an event the non occurrence of which was a basic assumption on which the contract was made, his remaining duties to render performance are discharged, unless the language or the circumstances indicate the contrary.”).
. Doc. No. 61 at ¶ 35 in 9-ap-859.
. Van Hook v. the Residences at Coconut Point, LLC, 364 Fed.Appx. 549 (11th Cir. 2010).
. Some of these plaintiffs are listed in Appendix A as plaintiffs who filed automatic rescission claims within two years of signing their Updated Purchase Contracts.
. Mona Lisa, 436 B.R. at 192 (citing 15 U.S.C. § 1709(a)).
. Doc. No. 39 at 13-14 in Case No. 9-ap-859 (arguing "[djefendant fails to understand the strict liability nature of the ILSFDA.”).
. Gentry, 654 F.3d at 1262.
. Gentry, 654 F.3d at 1262 (Citing Murray v. Holiday Isle, 620 F.Supp.2d 1302, 1312 (S.D.Ala. 2009) ("where a purchaser has been damaged by nondisclosure of these rescission rights as required by § 1703(c), the purchaser plainly has an actionable ILSFDA claim pursuant to § 1709(b).”)). Plaintiffs erroneously cite to Schatz and Appalachian Inc. to show loss causation is not required. Schatz v. Jockey Chib Phase III, Ltd., 604 F.Supp. 537 (S.D.Fla. 1985); Appalachian, Inc. v. Olson, 468 So.2d 266 (Fla.App.2d Dist. 1985). In both cases the courts granted plaintiffs' rescission requests without addressing whether or how the plaintiffs were damaged. These dated cases lack an abundance of facts and are distinguishable because they simply fail to address ILSFDA's various statutes of limitation or even mention when plaintiffs brought their causes of action.
. Venezia v. 12th & Division Properties, LLC, 679 F.Supp.2d 842, 850 (M.D.Tenn. 2009) (emphasis added).
. Doc. No. 61 at ¶ 17 in Case No. 9-ap-859.
. Doc. No. 39 at 13 in 9-ap-859.
. Doc. No. 126, at 22-23.
. Under Rule 56(e), the nonmoving party, in responding to a properly made motion for summary judgment, “may not rely merely on allegations or denials in its own pleadings; rather, its response must — by affidavits or as otherwise provided in this rule — set out specific facts showing a genuine issue for trial. If the opposing party does not so respond, summary judgment should, if appropriate, be entered against that party.” Fed. R. Civ. Pro. 56(e).
. See Doc. No. 125, Exhibit 7 (Original Purchase Agreement notices in bold just before signature block).
. Doc. No. 61 at ¶21 in 9-ap-859 (citing Ditthardt v. North Ocean Condos, L.P., 580 F.Supp.2d 1288, 1291 (S.D.Fla. 2008)). The Court, however, rejects the finding that § 1703(b) comes with an automatic three-year rescission right.
. 15U.S.C. § 1703(b).
. Pretka v. Kolter City Plaza II, Inc., 2011 WL 841513, *4 (S.D.Fla. March 7, 2011). Fla. Stat. § 718.503 reads:
THIS AGREEMENT IS VOIDABLE BY PURCHASER BY DELIVERING WRITTEN NOTICE OF THE BUYER'S INTENTION TO CANCEL WITHIN FIFTEEN (15) DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF THE EXECUTION OF THIS CONTRACT BY THE BUYER, AND RECEIPT BY THE BUYER OF ALL OF THE ITEMS REQUIRED TO BE DELIVERED TO PURCHASER BY THE DEVELOPER UNDER SECTION 718.503, FLORIDA STATUTES.
. Doc. No. 61 at ¶ 11 in 9-ap-859.
. Werdmuller Von Elgg v. Paramount, No. 6:08-CV-1285-KRS (M.D.Fla. 2008).
. See plaintiffs’ affidavits, for example, in Doc. Nos. 58-61 in 9-ap-770. Some affidavits claim "We were unaware of our 15 U.S.C. § 1703(c) rescission right and the Purchase Agreement fails to disclose such right as required." Doc. Nos. 55-75.
. 15 U.S.C. § 1703(c) reads:
In the case of any contract or agreement for the sale or lease of a lot for which a property report is required by this chapter and the property report has not been given to the purchaser or lessee in advance of his or her signing such contract or agreement, such contract or agreement may be revoked at the option of the purchaser or lessee within two years from the date of such signing, and such contract or agreement shall clearly provide this right.
. Gentry, 654 F.3d at 1262-63.; Harari v. Seymour Int’l, Inc., Case No. 6:09-cv-1277-Orl-22-ACC-GJK (Doc. No. 25);
. Gentry, 654 F.3d at 1262-62.
. The Court previously rejected the analysis from these two cases because plaintiffs cited the cases for a separate provision of the ILSF-DA. Mona Lisa, 436 B.R. at 192-93 (citing Harari v. Seymour Int’l, Inc., Case No. 6:09-cv-1277-Orl-22-ACC-GJK (Doc. No. 25);
. Harari, 6:09-cv-1277 at 7 (citing Murray v. Holiday Isle, 620 F.Supp.2d. 1302 (S.D.Ala. 2009)).
. Gentry v. Harborage Cottages-Stuart, LLLP, 602 F.Supp.2d 1239, 1243 (S.D.Fla. 2009).
. Harari, (Doc. No. 25); Kiersz, (Doc. No. 44). In both cases, the plaintiffs make the claim that the developer failed to complete construction within two years.
.Doc. No. 61 in 9-ap-859, among other places. Mona Lisa counters that “plaintiffs' identical declarations that they should have rescinded had they known of these rights amount to nothing more than the restatement of the bald allegations of their Complaint with no supporting facts.”
. 15 U.S.C. § 77a, et seq.
. Fla. Stat. § 517.011, et seq.
. SEC v. Kirkland, 521 F.Supp.2d 1281, 1289 (M.D.Florida 2007); Alunni v. Development Resources Group, LLC, 2009 WL 2579319 (M.D.Fla. Aug. 18, 2009) (citing United Housing Foundation Inc. v. Forman, 421 U.S. 837, 95 S.Ct. 2051, 44 L.Ed.2d 621 (1975)).
. Securities and Exchange Commission v. W.J. Howey Co., 328 U.S. 293, 66 S.Ct. 1100, 90 L.Ed. 1244 (1946).
. SEC v. Unique Fin. Concepts, Inc., 196 F.3d 1195, 1199 (11th Cir. 1999).
.Id. at 1199 (11th Cir. 1999). A common enterprise also is possible when there is horizontal commonality involving a pooling of interests or profits in the transaction. SEC v. Kirkland, 521 F.Supp.2d 1281, 1292 (M.D.Fla. 2007). No horizontal commonality exists in this case because it is undisputed that there was no pooling arrangement involved with this project.
. SEC v. ETS Payphones, Inc., 408 F.3d 727, 732 (11th Cir. 2005).
. Albanese v. Fla. Nat'l Bank, 823 F.2d 408, 410 (11th Cir. 1987).
. Morris v. Bischoff, 1997 WL 128114, at *5 (M.D.Fla. March 4, 1997).
. Id.
. The debtor distributed various brochures and materials on a website to interested purchasers. The materials are attached as exhibits to plaintiffs' affidavits in the Bruno Adversary as Doc. No. 49, Exhibit 2 (the “Small Brochure”); Doc. No. 50, Exhibit No. 3 (the "Large Brochure”); and Doc. No. 51, Exhibit 3 (the “Website Materials”).
. United Housing Foundation Inc. v. Forman, 421 U.S. 837, 858, 95 S.Ct. 2051, 44 L.Ed.2d 621 (1975).
. Id.
. Garcia v. Santa Maria Resort, Inc., 528 F.Supp.2d 1283, 1292 (M.D.Fla. 2007).
. See, e.g., Doc. No. 10-1, p. 9, ¶ 27(a).
. E.g., SEC v. Kirkland, 521 F.Supp.2d 1281 (M.D.Fla. 2007).
. SEC no-aclion letters are not binding precedent, but courts can rely on them for their persuasiveness. Allaire Corp. v. Okumus, 433 F.3d 248, 254 (2d Cir. 2006).
. Guidelines As to the Applicability of the Federal Securities Laws to Offers and Sales of Condominiums or Units in a Real Estate Development, Securities Act, 1973 WL 158443, Release No. 33-5347, 1 Fed. Sec. L. Rep. (CCH) ¶ 1049 (Jan. 4, 1973).
. Diamond Cove Associates, 1990 WL 287055 (Sept. 27, 1990) (This case does not identify the real estate development specifically as a "condo-hotel.” Rather, it is a condo development which is heavily oriented towards units being rented out to vacationers. The developer anticipated less than 20 percent of units serving as primary residences.); FC Beach Joint Venture, 1998 WL 278529 (May 29, 1998); Int’l Investment Properties, Inc., 1995 WL 451934 (July 28, 1995); Intrawest Corp., 2002 WL 31626919 (Nov. 8, 2002).
. The Intrawest no-action letter strongly suggests buyers in that development could use their units for only two weeks a year by asking "what does the purchaser do with this resort property with the other 50 weeks of the year?” Section III. B. The SEC staff still recommended no enforcement action.
. Guidelines, 1973 WL 158443, at *3. The Court notes that the SEC Guidelines also state that “limitations on the period of time the owner may occupy the unit ... suggests that the purchaser is in fact investing in a business enterprise, the return from which will be substantially dependent on the success of the managerial efforts of other person.” However, the more recent SEC no-action letters indicate this is only one factor among many that should be considered, and that how the developer advertised the units is also an important factor.
. Fla. Stat. § 718.101 etseq.
. Double AA Intern. Inv. Group Inc. v. Swire Pacific Holdings, Inc., 2010 WL 1258086, *6 (S.D.Fla. March 30, 2010) (aff'd (in part) Double AA Intern. Inv. Group, Inc. v. Swire Pacific Holdings, 637 F.3d 1169 (11th Cir. 2011)).
. Id.
. First Sarasota Service Corp. v. Miller, 450 So.2d 875, 878 (Fla.App. 2 Dist. 1984).
. Fla. Stat. 718.202(6).
. Florida Administrative Code Rule 61B-17.009(1). In the its first summary judgment opinion, the Court found an issue of fact precluded summary judgment as to whether
. Fla. Stat. § 718.202(3).
. Fla. Stat. § 718.202(3).
. CRC 603, LLC v. North Carillon, LLC, 77 So.3d 655, 657 (Fla.App.Dist.3d 2011).
. Id.
. Doc. No. 177.
. § 718.202(3).
. § 718.202(1).
. Prospectus, Ex. 4, Doc. No. 48; Doc. No. 125, Ex. 1.
. Doc. No. 125, Exhibit 3.
. Memorandum Opinion Denying Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss at 12 (Doc. No. 92 in Case No 9-ap-49; Doc. No. 40 in Case No. 9-ap-769).
. Doc. 65 Exhibit 4 in 9-ap-770.
. Doc. No. 125 Exhibit 1.
. Fla. Stat. 718.202(11). See CRC 603, LLC, 77 So.3d 655.
. Doc. No. 224 at 3.
. Id, at 5 (except for a single plaintiff whose deposits were segregated 16 months after the funds were established). The Court need not address this singular issue because all plaintiffs are entitled to recovery based on Mona Lisa’s violation of the escrow agreement in § 718.202(3).
. Doc. No. 205 at 17.
. Id. at 17-19. See also Doc. No. 205, Exhibit 2.
. Doc. No. 205, Exhibit 2. This summary is consistent with the SunTrust records submitted by Mona Lisa.
. Doc. No. 223 at 3.
. An argument of “no harm, no foul” is circular reasoning because plaintiffs would have to wait until their assets are lost before they can act under § 718.202. Double AA Intern. Inv. Group, Inc. v. Swire Pacific Holdings, Inc. 2010 WL 1258086, *21 (S.D.Fla. 2010).
. No private cause of action exists under § 718.202 against SunTrust, as escrow agent, for these failures. Double AA Intern. Inv. Group, Inc. v. Swire Pacific Holdings, Inc., 637 F.3d 1169, 1171 (11th Cir. 2011). See infra, Count XVI.
. Interestingly, § 718.202 places no similar restrictions on the use of the Under 10% Escrow, presumably because buyers are protected by the equivalent surety bond.
. Fla. Stat. § 718.202(3).
. Fla. Stat. § 718.202(3) (emphasis added).
. Doc. No. 205 at 11.
. Doc. No. 205 at 10-15.
. Doc. No. 208 at 51.
. He claims this transfer process was necessary because when expenses became payable, the Over 10% Escrow lacked sufficient funds to pay them. In other words, Mona Lisa argues these payments were reimbursements for proper expenses already paid from another account.
. Doc. No. 230 at 13 (citing Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary).
. Doc. No. 230 at 13 (citing Florida Statute § 718.202(3))(emphasis added).
. Doc. No. 230 at 13.
. Doc. No. 230 at 14.
. Rollins v. Pizzarelli, 761 So.2d 294, 297 (Fla. 2000) (noting "when the language of the statute is clear and unambiguous and conveys a clear and definite meaning ... the statute must be given its plain and obvious meaning.”).
. Douglas County Bd. Of Equalization v. Fidelity Castle Pines, 890 P.2d 119 (Colo. 1995). Construction and Development Financing § 3:141(3d Ed). See also In re GIC Government Securities, Inc., 98 B.R. 71, 72 (Bankr.M.D.Fla. 1989) (recognizing certain soft costs relating to the development, such as appraisal fees, engineering costs, and the franchise application fee).
. People v. Montague, 280 Mich. 610, 274 N.W. 347 (1937); Home-Owners Ins., Co. v. Thomas Lowe Ventures, Inc., 1998 WL 1856221 at *4-6 (Mich.Cir.Ct. August 27, 1998). See also Amsel v. Brooks, 141 Conn. 288, 106 A.2d 152, 158 (1954) (Advertising means the act or practice of attracting public attention to a product, service, or business, directly or indirectly, for the purpose of inducing a sale by emphasizing desirable qualities).
. See Metromedia, Inc. v. City of San Diego, 453 U.S. 490, 526, 101 S.Ct. 2882, 69 L.Ed.2d 800 (1981) (discussing advertising display signs in an opinion regarding First Amendment rights).
. See Abdnour v. Abdnour, 19 So.3d 357, 364 (Fla.App.2d Dist. 2009) (Money is fungible and once it is comingled it loses it separate character).
. Other sections of the Florida Condominium Act, such as Fla. Stat. § 718.505, allows for good faith noncompliance with disclosure requirements. Section 718.202, however, contains no good faith exception.
. Fla. Stat. § 718.202(5).
. § 718.202(5) (emphasis added).
. Fla. Stat. § 718.125 allows the prevailing party to recover attorneys' fees. Paragraph 25 of the purchase contracts provides the prevailing party is entitled to attorney fees and costs for breach of contract. Doc. No. 125 Exhibit 7.
. All plaintiffs paid deposits in amounts over 10% of their purchase prices except the Byrnes, who paid deposits totaling exactly 10% of the purchase price for their two units, 303 and 319. The Byrnes are not entitled to recovery under Fla. Stat. § 718.202. But, the Byrnes signed Updated Purchase Agreements and are entitled to recover their deposits, with interest, costs, and fees, under Count VIII.
. Contracts for Unit Nos. 136, 218, 219, 221, 237, 511, 523, 536, 538, 545, and 547.
. Id.
. Id.
. Doc. No. 228 at 23; Doc. No. 125.
. Pretka, 2011 WL 841513 at *4.
. Doc. No. 205 at 19 (citing Cuellar v. Harbour East Development, Ltd., 2011 WL 2550461 at *2 (Bankr.S.D.Fla. June 20, 2011)).
. Id.
. Part V of the Condominium Act "Regulation and Disclosure Prior to Sale of Residential Condominiums” largely governs to enforcement and oversight of the Act.
. Bruce v. O’Neill, 445 So.2d 379 (Fla.App. 4th Dist. 1984); Pretka, 2011 WL 841513.
. Pretka, 2011 WL 841513 at *5 (emphasis added) (rejecting defendant’s motion to dismiss and holding "[a] trier of fact may need to weigh each of [the § 718.505] factors separately or in relationship to each other in determining whether a developer substantially complied with section 718.202(3).”).
. The Court disagrees with Pretka v. Kolter City Plaza II Inc., 2011 WL 3204256 to the extent it required the plaintiffs to allege prejudice.
. Bruce, 445 So.2d at 380 ("We are doubtful as to the cause of action for statutory rescission [under section 718.506] where there is absolutely no demonstration that the plaintifPpurchaser was even slightly prejudiced by the technical statutory noncompli-
. Doc. No. 177 at ¶ 222.
. Fla. Stat. § 718.202(1) (emphasis added).
. Doc. No. 125 Exhibit 1 at 4.
. Mgmt. Computer Controls, Inc. v. Charles Perry Constr., Inc., 743 So.2d 627, 631 (Fla.App. 1st Dist. 1999); see also OBS Co. v. Pace Constr. Corp., 558 So.2d 404, 406 (Fla. 1990) (“It is a generally accepted rule of contract law that, where a writing expressly refers to and sufficiently describes another document, that other document, or so much of it as is referred to, is to be interpreted as part of the writing.”). The ability to incorporate by reference applies equally to statutes. See Century Vill., Inc. v. Wellington E, F, K, L, H, J, M, & G, Condo. Ass’n., 361 So.2d 128, 133 (Fla. 1978); Geico Indent. Co. v. Virtual Imaging Services, Inc., 2011 WL 5964369, *5 (Fla.App.3d Dist. 2011).
.Fla. Stat. § 718.202(l)(a) reads "If a buyer properly terminates the contract pursuant to its terms or pursuant to this chapter, the funds shall be paid to the buyer together with any interest earned.”
. Fla. Stat. § 718.502(Z)(a). See also Clone, Inc. v. Orr, 476 So.2d 1300, 1302 (Fla.App. 5th Dist. 1985).
. Doc. No. 57 at 19-20 in Case No. 9-ap-770. See infra Counts I-IV.
. Defendant’s Responses and Objections to Plaintiffs’ Requests for admission. Doc. No. 46 in 9-ap-859 Exhibit 1. In answer no. 6, Mona Lisa admits it did not submit its post-March 2006 agreement to Division.
. Doc. No. 76 at 8 in 9-ap-770; Doc. No. 225 at 14.
. Doc. No. 225 at 14.
. Fla. Stat. § 718.103(23) (emphasis added).
. Doc No. 61 in 9-ap-859.
. Mona Lisa is mistaken, however, when it suggests "this Court held in its August 2010 Opinion that Mona Lisa is not a residential condominium.” What the Court specifically held was that Mona Lisa was not selling residential units within a Community Development District based on plaintiffs' allegations under Fla. Stat. § 190.048 — it made no determination as to the residential nature of the individual units themselves. In re Mona Lisa at Celebration, 436 B.R. 179, 208 (Bankr.M.D.Fla. 2010).
. See infra, Counts V-VI.
. Mona Lisa also argues that even if the Court finds the units to be residential, this section of the Act still does not apply because an administrative rule interpreting § 718.502 provides an exception. Administrative Rule 61B-17.006(2)(b) reads:
No changes shall be made to the form purchase contract approved by the Division without first filing and obtaining acceptance of such changes from the Division. However, in an individual unit sale transaction using the form purchase contract approved by the Division, a change to the purchase contract or a modification made on the purchase contract or the attachment of a rider or addendum to such contract is not required to be filed with the Division provided that such change, modification, rider or addendum does not contain either a waiver or reduction of purchaser’s rights under Chapter 718, F.S., or a reduction of a developer’s duties under Chapter 718 F.S., and the rules promulgated there under, and is not otherwise inconsistent with Chapter 718.F.S. (Emphasis Added).
The first sentence clearly requires all changes to a purchase form to be submitted to the Division. The second sentence refers to modifications of an "individual unit sale,” a scenario not applicable to the facts of this case because Mona Lisa was selling numerous units. Therefore, whether or not the change was material is irrelevant. This administrative rule sets forth the procedures a developer must follow if it alters documents required to be filed with the Division. See Garcia v. Swire, 2010 WL 1524230 at *4 (S.D.Fla. April 14, 2010).
. Fla. Stat. § 718.502(l)(a).
. Fla. Stat. § 718.202(l)(a).
. Fla. Stat. § 718.125. Section 25 of the purchase contracts provides for reasonable attorney fees and costs to the prevailing party of any litigation arising out of the purchase contracts.
. Fla. Stat. § 718.503. See In re Suncoast East Assoc., 241 B.R. 476 (Bankr.S.D.Fla. 1999); Mona Lisa, 436 B.R. at 202-03; D&T Properties, Inc. v. Marina Grande Associates, Ltd., 985 So.2d 43 (Fla.App. 4th Dist. 2008).
. Fla. Stat. 718.503(b) (referring to § 718.504(24)).
. See Doc. No. 61 at ¶ 56 in Case No. 9-ap-859, among other places.
. Doc. No. 177 at ¶ 255.
. Doc. No. 48 at 5.
. See Prospectus, Doc. No. 48, and architectural renderings therein.
. Specifically, see Small Brochure, pg. 10; Large Brochure, pg. 8; Website Material, pg. 1.
. See D & T Properties, Inc., 985 So.2d at 49.
. Id.
. Doc. No. 45 at 14, citing Gentry, 2008 WL 1803637, *2-4 (S.D.Fla. April 21, 2008); Klinger, 502 So.2d at 1254; and Mastaler v. Hollywood Ocean Group, L.L.C., 10 So.3d 1114 (Fla.Dist.Ct.App. 4th 2009). Doc. No. 61 at ¶ 56-57 in Case No. 9-ap-859.
. Gentry, 2008 WL 1803637 at *3; Klinger, 502 So.2d at 1254.
. Gentry, 2008 WL 1803637 at *3.
. Klinger, 502 So.2d at 1253-54.
. Id. at 1254.
. Mastaler, 10 So.3d 1114.
. Id. at 1116.
. Id.
. Id.
. Doc. No. 121.
. Doc. No. 121 at ¶ 33.
. Id. at ¶ 39.
. Doc. No. 46.
. Doc. No. 177 at V 254-55.
. Chalfonte Dev. Corp. v. Rosewin Coats, Inc., 374 So.2d 618, 619 (Fla.App. 4th Dist. 1979).
. Id.
. Kaufman v. Swire Pacific Holdings, Inc., 675 F.Supp.2d 1148, 1152 (S.D.Fla. 2009).
. Mona Lisa, 436 B.R. at 205.
. Although neither the statute nor Florida case law under § 718.506 provide any guidance on the issue of what constitutes a "false” or "misleading” statement, courts generally find that similar statutes require that the rep-resentor knew or should have known the statement was false or misleading at the time it was made. See, e.g., Rollins, Inc. v. But-land, 951 So.2d 860, 877 (Fla.App.2d Dist. 2006) (finding misleading advertising [under § 817.41] is a particularized form of fraud requiring plaintiffs to prove each of the elements of common law fraud in the inducement); Joseph v. Liberty Nat. Bank, 873 So.2d 384, 388 (Fla.App. 5th Dist. 2004) (finding § 817.41 requires plaintiff to prove repre-sentor knew or should have known falsity of statement, as when proving fraud in the inducement).
. Specifically, that (1) the units would be part of a development totaling three buildings; (2) the development would include an on-site, high-end restaurant and bar with over 6,000 square feet and additional outdoor patio seating in the courtyard; and (3) the development would include over 3,000 square feet of reception and meeting space.
. Amended Complaint at ¶¶ 159-180, Doc. No. 10.
. Doc. No. 46 Ex. 9; Doc. No. 89 Ex. 1.
. Compare 2005 Declaration of Condominium'and 2007 Declaration of Condominium.
. See Doc. No. 125 at ¶ 5.
. Evers v. General Motors Corp. 770 F.2d 984, 986 (11th Cir. 1985).
.Doc. No. 125, at ¶ 5.
. These allegations appear in Counts XVI (false misrepresentation under FDUTPA § 501.201), Count XVII (fraudulent misrepresentation), Count XIX (negligent misrepresentation), and Count XX (unilateral mistake) of plaintiffs’ Second Amended Complaint (Doc. No. 32 in 9-ap-859).
. A FDUTPA claim requires (1) a deceptive act or unfair practice; (2) causation; and (3) actual damages. Bookworld Trade, Inc. v. Daughters of St. Paul, Inc., 532 F.Supp.2d 1350, 1364 (M.D.Fla. 2007) (citation omitted). To state a claim for negligent misrepresentation, Florida law requires a plaintiff to allege: “(1) misrepresentation of a material fact; (2) that the representor made the misrepresentation without knowledge as to its truth or falsity or under circumstances in which he ought to have known of its falsity; (3) that the representor intended that the misrepresentation induce another to act on it; and (4) that injury resulted to the party acting in justifiable reliance on the misrepresentation.” Holguin v. Celebrity Cruises, Inc., 2010 WL 1837808, *1 (S.D.Fla. 2010). Fraudulent misrepresentation in Florida requires: "(1) a false statement concerning a material fact; (2) the representor’s knowledge that the representation is false; (3) an intention that the representation induce another to act on it; and (4) consequent injury by the party acting in reliance on the representation.” Butler v. Yusem, 44 So.3d 102, 105 (Fla. 2010). Note that justifiable reliance is not an element of fraudulent misrepresentation. Specialty Marine & Industrial Supplies, Inc. v. Venus, 66 So.3d 306, 310 (Fla.App. 1st Dist. 2011).
. Fla. Stat. § 501.201 et seq.
. In re Florida Cement and Concrete Antitrust, 746 F.Supp.2d 1291, 1320-21 (S.D.Fla. 2010).
. Zlotnick v. Premier Sales Group, Inc., 480 F.3d 1281, 1284 (11th Cir. 2007) (citations omitted).
. Doc. No. 39 in 9-ap-859. Prato v. Hacienda Del Mar, LLC, 2011 WL 161787 (M.D.Fla. Jan. 18, 2011) (citing Trotta v. Lighthouse Point Land Co., LLC, 551 F.Supp.2d 1359, 1367 (S.D.Fla. 2008) (rev’d on other grounds); Pugliese v. Pukka Dev., Inc., 550 F.3d 1299 (11th Cir. 2008)).
. Fla. Stats. § 501.207; § 501.211(2) & § 501.2105.
. There can be no per se violation of FDUT-PA based on alleged but unfounded violations of ILSFDA. Mona Lisa, 436 B.R. at 208.
. Plaintiffs cite Semtek Int’l, Inc. v. Lockheed Martin Corp., 531 U.S. 497, 504, 121 S.Ct. 1021, 149 L.Ed.2d 32 (2001) and a number of similar Florida cases for the proposition that the "expiration of the applicable statute of limitations merely bars the remedy and does not extinguish the substantive right." But they cherry-picked this quotation from the middle of a longer sentence having to do with claim-preclusion. Neither the sentence fragment nor the complete sentence supports plaintiffs’ argument.
. Id. (citing Double AA, 674 F.Supp.2d at 1357; Edgewater By the Bay, LLLP v. Gaunchez, 419 B.R. 511 (Bankr.S.D.Fla. 2009)).
. In re Samuels, 176 B.R. 616, 628 (Bankr.M.D.Fla. 1994); Suris v. Gilmore Liquidating, Inc., 651 So.2d 1282, 1283 (Fla.Dist.Ct.App.3d 1995).
. Doc. No. 65 in 9-ap-770. Mona Lisa maintains "[n]one of Mona Lisa’s Purchase Contracts with buyers contain the language set forth in Florida Statutes § 190.048 because Mona Lisa did not offer “residential” units for sale within a Community Development District.”
. Doc. No 61 at ¶ 67 in 9-ap-859.
. 16 C.F.R. § 460.16 requires sellers of new homes to provide the thickness, and R-value of the insulation that will be installed in each part of the house.
. Doc. No. 61 in 9-ap-859.
. Fla. Stat. § 720.401(l)(a).
. Id.
. Fla. Stat. § 720.401(c).
. Id. (emphasis added). See Florida Farm, LLC v. 360 Developers, LLC, 45 So.3d 810 (Fla.App.3d Dist. 2010).
. Fla. Stat. § 718.102 ("Every condominium created and existing in this state shall be subject to the provisions of this chapter.”).
. "Purchaser, by virtue of ownership of the Unit, shall automatically become a member of the Association, and shall be obligated to pay assessments and other fees and charges in accordance with the Declaration and exhibits thereto, described elsewhere in this Contract or in materials delivered to Purchaser contemporaneously with or prior to the Effective Date of this Contract.” (Doc. No. 125 Exhibit 7).
. Doc. No. 177 at 58-62.
. Plaintiffs appear to have dropped their argument that Mona Lisa breached Paragraph 3 of the Updated Purchase Agreements by failing to complete construction of the units within two years after the dates the agreements were signed. Mona Lisa obtained its Certificate of Occupancy on May 7, 2008. Doc. No. 26 in Adversary Proceeding No. 9-859. Even assuming that Mona Lisa finished construction on May 7, 2008, the latest date by which Mona Lisa could have finished construction, no plaintiff signed the Updated Purchase Agreement before May 7, 2006. Therefore, because all of the plaintiffs who signed the Updated Purchase Agreement did so on or after May 29, 2006, no plaintiff can claim that Mona Lisa breached Paragraph 3 of the Updated Purchase Agreement. Mona Lisa timely completed construction.
.Border Collie Rescue, Inc. v. Ryan, 418 F.Supp.2d 1330, 1342-43 (M.D.Fla. 2006).
. Denson v. Stack, 997 F.2d 1356, 1361 (11th Cir. 1993).
. Plaintiffs also argue that they could not legally close on their units because Mona Lisa failed to properly update the relevant declaration of condominium after it completed construction as required by § 718.104(4)(e) of the Florida Statutes. The Court finds that the plaintiffs' claim on this point is untimely pursuant to § 718.110(10) and is moot, given the undisputed fact numerous other non-plaintiff purchasers have closed on their units. See, Haberman Declaration, Doc. No. 65 in Adversary Proceeding No. 9-770.
. Hollander v. K-Site Assocs., 630 So.2d 1153, 1154 (Fla.App.3d Dist. 1993).
. Henry v. Ecker, 415 So.2d 137, 140 (Fla.App. 5th Dist. 1982).
. Id.
. The Original Purchase Agreements specified April 30, 2007, as the Estimated Closing Date, while the Updated Purchase Agreements specify either July or September 2007, as the Estimated Closing Date.
. 568 F.Supp.2d 1354, 1366 (M.D.Fla. 2008).
. Although the contracts also specified an estimated closing date, the court in Hatvey found a breach of contract when the developer failed to complete construction by the mandatory two-year deadline.
. Id.
. Doc. No. 208 at 73-76.
. Doc. No. 44 in 9-ap-859 Affidavit of Charles D. Brecker.
. Finding that the Estimated Closing Date in the Original Purchase Agreements was flexible and that time was not of the essence, plaintiffs then had the obligation to demand Mona Lisa deliver their units in a timely fashion and demonstrate that Mona Lisa thereafter failed to perform. Plaintiffs never made any such demands, and, as such, now cannot demonstrate that Mona Lisa failed to timely deliver any units.
. Doc. No. 47 at ¶ 15 in Case No. 9-ap-859; Doc. No. 57 at 17 in 9-ap-770.
. See e.g. Doc. No. 203 at 9, Plaintiffs' Affidavits in which plaintiffs allege: “there is absolutely no evidence that any of the Plaintiffs had actual and timely notice of any changes in the Estimated Closing Date or that any of the plaintiffs waived any of their contractual rights.”
. Doc. No. 70 at ¶ 36-37 in 9-ap-859.
. Doc. No. 208 at 81.
. See Doc. No. 49 at 81 in 9-ap-49 listing "examples” of communications sent to plaintiffs.”
. Doc. No. 45 Exhibit 9 in 9-ap~859.
. Id.
.Mona Lisa, 436 B.R. at 210.
. Doc. No. 125, Exhibit 1.
. Double AA Intern. Inv. Group Inc. v. Swire Pacific Holdings, Inc., 637 F.3d 1169, 1171 (11th Cir. 2011) (citing United Auto. Ins. Co. v. A 1st Choice Healthcare Sys., 21 So.3d 124, 128 (Fla.App.3d Dist. 2009)).
. SunTrust has filed a cross-claim against Mona Lisa. Doc. No. 90. Mona Lisa has filed an answer. Doc. No. 95. The issue is not decided here because neither party has moved for summary judgment as to SunTrust's cross-claim.
. Doc. No. 205 at 23-24.
. Doc. No. 125, Exhibit 3, at ¶ 4.
. Id.
. Johnson v. Johnson, 725 So.2d 1209, 1212-13 (Fla.App.3d Dist. 1999).
. Westchester has filed a cross-claim against Mona Lisa seeking indemnity from Mona Lisa for all amounts owed by Westches-ter, including fees and costs. Doc. No. 89. Mona Lisa has replied. Doc. No. 96. Neither party has filed a motion for summary judgment on this cross claim.
. State law determines the extent and validity of a debtor’s interest in property. In re Scanlon, 239 F.3d 1195, 1197-98 (11th Cir. 2001); Butner v. United States, 440 U.S. 48, 54, 99 S.Ct. 914, 59 L.Ed.2d 136 (1979).
. All references to the Bankruptcy Code refer to 11 U.S.C. § 101 etseq.
. 11 U.S.C. § 541(d). See also T & B Scottdale Contractors, Inc. v. United States, 866 F.2d 1372, 1376 (11th Cir. 1989); Scanlon, 239 F.3d. at 1197-98.
. Doc. No. 177 at 62-63 (citing 11 U.S.C. § 541(d) and Butner, 440 U.S. 48, 99 S.Ct. 914 (1979)).
. In re Cedar Rapids Meats, Inc., 121 B.R. 562, 567 (Bankr.N.D.Iowa 1990) (citing In re Sun, 116 B.R. 767, 771 (Bankr.D.Haw. 1990)).
. In re Cedar Rapids Meats, Inc., 121 B.R. at 567 (citing In re Dolphin Titan Intern., Inc., 93 B.R. 508, 512-13 (Bankr.S.D.Tex. 1988)).
. In re Berkley Multi-Units, Inc., 69 B.R. 638 (Bankr.M.D.Fla. 1987); Scanlon, 239 F.3d at 1197-98; In re Hallmark Builders, Inc., 205 B.R. 971, 973 (Bankr.M.D.Fla. 1996).
. Dickerson v. Central Florida Radiation Oncology Group, 225 B.R. 241, 244 (M.D.Fla. 1998).
. See In re Royal Business School, Inc., 157 B.R. 932, 941-42 (Bankr.E.D.N.Y. 1993); In re Dolphin Titan Intern., Inc., 93 B.R. 508, 512-13 (Bankr.S.D.Tex. 1988).
. Doc. No. 205 at 6.
. See In re Royal Business School, Inc., 157 B.R. 932, 940 (Bankr.E.D.N.Y. 1993) (an escrow grantee has an equitable interest in property until full performance of the conditions of the escrow have been met, at which time legal title to the property in escrow will vest in the grantee).
. Even though plaintiffs have proven they are entitled to return of their deposits, the Eleventh Circuit has held § 718.202 does not authorize a private cause of action against an escrow agent. See Double AA Intern. Inv. Group, Inc. v. Swire Pacific Holdings, Inc., 637 F.3d 1169, 1171 (11th Cir. 2011) (citing United Auto. Ins. Co. v. A 1st Choice Healthcare Sys., 21 So.3d 124, 128 (Fla.App.3d Dist. 2009) (overturning Swire, "Absent a specific expression of legislative intent, a private right of action may not be implied.”)). For the same reasons, no private cause of action under § 718.202 shall be maintained against the surety, Westchester. Plaintiffs’ actions against Westchester to recover their deposits may only be based on the contractual obligations under the surety agreement.
.Westchester's cross claim, at Doc. No. 89, indicates that the total amount under Surety agreement is $6,750,000. However, the surety bond and rider indicate the total amount of the surety increased from $5,000,000 to $6,575,000. Doc. No. 125 Exhibit 3 (Rider).
. Doc. No. 502, Amended Order Confirming Plan of Liquidation.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- In re MONA LISA AT CELEBRATION, LLC, Debtor. Laura Bruno v. Mona Lisa at Celebration, LLC, Westchester Fire Insurance Company, SunTrust Bank, and BankFirst, Defendants Karen Dodsworth v. Mona Lisa at Celebration, LLC, Westchester Fire Insurance Company, SunTrust Bank, and BankFirst, Defendants Moire McKibbin v. Mona Lisa at Celebration, LLC, Westchester Fire Insurance Company, SunTrust Bank, and BankFirst, Defendants Kathryn Bennett v. Mona Lisa at Celebration, LLC, Westchester Fire Insurance Company, SunTrust Bank, and BankFirst
- Cited By
- 3 cases
- Status
- Published