Source: https://www.salcineslaw.com/category/uncategorized/
Timestamp: 2019-04-22 19:56:15+00:00

Document:
Florida law (Fla. Stat. §832.05) makes it not only a civil offense to write a bad check, or issue a check that the remitter knows has no funds and will not clear, but also makes it a misdemeanor or felony in the State of Florida, depending on the face amount of the worthless check.
In general, the term ‘check’ means a draft, other than a documentary draft, payable on demand and drawn on a bank or a cashier’s check or teller’s check. An instrument may be a check even though it is described by another term, such as ‘money order.’ Fla. Stat. § 673.1041(6).
Fla. Stat. §68.065 (for civil actions to collect worthless checks, drafts, or orders of payment) allows for recovery of treble damages, service charges, attorneys’ fees, and costs if its provisions are not followed. Before litigation is initiated, the form of notice set forth in Fla. Stat. §68.065 must be delivered by certified or registered mail, or by first-class mail, evidenced by an affidavit of service of mail, to the maker or drawer of the check, draft, or order of payment. If notice is properly provided, the maker or drawer will be liable to the payee for, in addition to the amount owing on the check, damages of triple the amount owing, a statutory service charge based on the check amount, reasonable attorneys’ fees, and court costs. If the notice is sent via certified mail and the recipient refuses to claim the notice or sign the postal receipt, the statutory notice requirement is satisfied.
Secondary persons receiving a check from the original payee or a successor endorsee have the same rights that the original payee has against the maker of the instrument, provided such subsequent persons give notice in a substantially similar form to that provided above. . Fla. Stat. § 832.07.
In any prosecution or action on a worthless check, payment of the check by the debtor does not constitute a defense or ground for dismissal of the charges. Fla. Stat. § 832.05(5). If the court determines that the failure to satisfy the dishonored check was due to economic hardship, however, the court has the discretion to waive all or part of the statutory damages.
In a criminal prosecution, the maker of the worthless check may be subject to a misdemeanor charge if the violation involves a misdemeanor and the check amount is less than $150.00, or a felony if the check is in excess of that amount. Fla. Stat. § 832.05(4)(c). Penalties may include up to 5 years in prison or a $1,000 fine for Felonies and up to $300 or six months in jail for Misdemeanors.
Please keep in mind there is a statute of limitations as well for processing a claim against the payor of a worthless check and bringing suit.
At the Law Offices of Jacqueline A. Salcines, P.A., we have extensive litigation experience and have been representing clients with bringing suits for worthless checks for over 18 years. Before you decide to write the letter yourself, contact us. We will get it right the first time and process your case in the most efficient manner possible.
Jacqueline A. Salcines, Esq is the Owner and Managing Partner of the Law Offices of Jacqueline A. Salcines, P.A. Real Estate and Business Law Group. With over 18 years experience including holding a dual degree in Accounting, her broad knowledge and experience in litigation including giving numerous pro bono seminars for Legal Aid and Put Something Back project, attorney Salcines serves to aggressively protect and defend our firm’s clients.
If your home or business suffered damage from Hurricane Irma, that affected both your income and ability to pay the mortgage, you are not alone. Thousands of homeowners and business owners across the state experienced the same loss to property and businesses due to Hurricane Irma. While many banks, creditors and agencies granted moratoriums on foreclosures, and agreed to waive late fees or even granted forbearances for 90 days, the time has run. Many homeowners are still not able to get back on their feet and have defaulted on their mortgage and mortgage balances.
If you are one of these homeowners that is now unable to catch up and pay your mortgage, you need to act fast so that the mortgagee or creditor does not foreclose or file a suit. Late payments and past due default or debt can be negotiated and a suit avoided. In order to have a successful negotiation and settlement you need a knowledgeable attorney on your side.
In practice for over 18 years, many of these years have been spent defending foreclosures for client and negotiating mortgage debt, and credit card debt for our clients.
Allow our extensive experience working with mortgage lenders and creditors to go to work for you.
Last week, HUD announced that it was granting $615.9 million dollars in grant funds to the State of Florida to help us recover from damages caused by Hurricane Irma floods. This comes after a November grant of $5 billion for Texas hurricane damages.
The funds, almost $616 million, are to be spread out through the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity and is set to give hurricane assistance for housing damages by Irma, business losses, and damage to infrastructure.
If you experienced serious damage due to Hurricane Irma, to either your property or your business, then you may be eligible to receive the hurricane relief funds set up by HUD.
If you require assistance, call one of the many numbers set up by the State of Florida and HUD. Or call us.

References: §832
 § 673
 §68
 §68
 § 832
 § 832
 § 832