On April 27, 2012, a bill amending Florida’s Self-Storage Facility Act (Act) was signed into law by Governor Rick Scott. The bill primarily implements changes to the notice requirements related to enforcing an owner’s lien against items stored in a self storage facility. According to the Self Storage Association, these changes could save Florida’s self storage industry more than $4 million annually. More...

Many condominium associations have policies that prohibit or regulate the ownership of pets. For the most part, associations have become adept at dealing with those having pets and those requesting permission to have a pet. However, as a recent lawsuit filed by the Justice Department in Utah shows, things are very different when the pet in question is a service animal. More...

Florida’s Motor Vehicle No-Fault Law requires motorists to carry at least $10,000 of no-fault insurance. This insurance requirement, known as personal injury protection (PIP) coverage, has existed in Florida since 1972. To make sure that those injured in an auto accident quickly get money to treat their injuries, the law requires a driver’s insurance company pay up to $10,000 for medical bills and lost wages, no matter who is at fault.More...

Unfortunately, the concepts of right and wrong often may not influence the decision to breach a contract. This is particularly true during difficult economic times when parties to a contract often use the threat of litigation to forcibly renegotiate the terms of their agreements. Needles to say, when asking a party to honor their contract, it is unsettling to hear someone respond with “sue me.” More...

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 785,000 Americans suffer their first heart attack every year, while another 470,000 experience their second. Unfortunately, the number of those who die from sudden cardiac arrest is equally disturbing. More...

Some self-storage managers have adopted a strategy of using sophisticated algorithms and demand analyses designed to maximize revenue when calculating their rents. This means that customers will receive a different rate for storing at the same facility. A customer who calls twice in a single day may receive two different quotes. More...

Would you think you could learn a profound sales lesson from American Idol? Well, it happened last season.

Here’s the backstory in case you’re not a fan. Pia,the beautiful and seemingly unbeatable contestant, got the axe.More...

On numerous occasions, we have discussed the importance of obtaining insurance from a financially secure insurance company. Though there are already many reasons to avoid doing business with financially unstable insurance companies, the Florida Supreme Court recently provided another. More...

One purpose of the personal injury protection, or PIP, requirement in Florida’s Motor Vehicle No-Fault Law is to provide medical, surgical, funeral, and disability insurance benefits without regard to fault. Although the amount an insurance company is required to pay is set by law, recent court decisions may force insurance companies to adjust either their insurance policies or their reimbursement practices. More...

Most of us think consultative sales techniques need only be applied to big ticket items like large software purchases or luxury cars. Not true. More...

Florida’s Condominium Act confers broad authority upon condominium associations to manage and maintain the communities they serve. Included within an association’s authority is the significant power to enter into contracts. This power, however, does have its limits. More...

Many homeowners employ an employee, whose duties are related to the maintenance or use of the owner’s home, including household or domestic services. Unfortunately, many of these same homeowners do not fully understand the risks associated with employing a domestic employee, or whether such risks are covered under their homeowners’ insurance policy.More...

A consequence of the struggling real estate market is the increased number of condominium units occupied by tenants rather than unit owners. Not surprisingly, many tenants do not have the same commitment—financial or emotional—to the condominium community as owners. As a result, condominium associations have to deal with non-owner tenants who fail to observe the association’s rules more frequently than before. More...

In the game of business, I find the bat to be a frequently used and highly ineffective piece of equipment. I know that because I conducted an unscientific survey and in the process, found an amazing difference in the way men and women employ the bat. More...

As with any business, self-storage facilities must take affirmative steps to protect the bottom line. Unfortunately, too many self-storage facilities overlook perhaps the most important and effective step of all—using the rental agreement to limit their liability exposure. More...

The U.S. Longshoreman and Harbor Worker’s Compensation Act (Act) was enacted to create a uniform system to compensate longshoremen and harbor workers for workplace injuries that did not depend on the precise site of his or her injury. However, the Act states that such compensation will be provided “only if the disability or death results from an injury occurring upon the navigable waters of the United States.” More...

When it comes to enforcing a storage lien against a delinquent servicemember-tenant, owners and operators of self-storage facilities must make sure they proceed in accordance with the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA). The SCRA is a federal law designed “to provide for, strengthen, and expedite the national defense” by temporarily suspending various judicial and administrative proceedings that may adversely affect the civil rights of servicemembers during their military service.More...

If a coin comes up tails 100 times in a row, is it more likely that the next toss of that same coin will be heads? The answer is no. Since, as they say, "a coin has no memory," the first 100 tosses do not change the fact that the probability on the 101st toss remains at fifty percent. Though significantly more complex, the insignificance of past events when calculating the probabilities of future events also applies to hurricanes. More...

"Angel speaking," I said, my customary phone answering protocol.

"Hi Angel, my name is Mary from XYZ Printing."

"Who? " I replied.

"Mary from XYZ Printing. I'm new here," she continued timidly, "and they gave me a list of people who have done business with us in the past to call."

"I honestly don't know your company," I replied.

"You printed business cards with us in 2008 and I am calling to see if you had anything you needed printed."

OUCH!

The overall health and stability of a condominium community is often viewed as a function of the whole rather than the sum of its parts. As such, those choosing to make their home in a condominium community understand the manner and extent to which their standard of living is dependent upon one another. This is particularly true in the context of a condominium community’s financial situation. More...