Source: https://ecode360.com/11615117
Timestamp: 2019-10-17 19:15:46
Document Index: 44251004

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 220', '§ 220', '§ 220', '§ 220', '§ 220', '§ 220', '§ 220', '§ 237', '§ 31', '§ 7281', '§ 31', '§ 7281', '§ 220', '§ 7106', '§ 7106', '§ 1', '§ 7101', '§ 220', '§ 220', '§ 220', '§ 220', '§ 220', '§ 220']

Township of South Fayette, PA Collection of Unpaid Taxes, Tax Liens and Claims
Ch 220 Art X Collection of Unpaid Taxes, Tax Liens and Claims
§ 220-76 Short title.
§ 220-77 Expenses approved.
§ 220-78 Attorney fees.
§ 220-79 Procedure.
§ 220-80 Servicing charges, expenses and fees approved.
§ 220-81 Effective date and retroactivity.
§ 220-82 Assignment.
Article X Collection of Unpaid Taxes, Tax Liens and Claims
[Adopted 12-15-2003 by Ord. No. 14-2003]
Title search. In any enforcement proceeding, the actual cost of a title search in an amount not to exceed $250 shall constitute a reasonable expense for each title search necessary for the initiation of each proceeding and compliance with Pa. R.C.P. 3129. The sum not to exceed $50 shall constitute a reasonable expense for each specific bringdown or update of the title search in connection with entry of judgment, issuance of execution, listing for sale, or other action.
Flat fee matters. The following schedule of attorney fees is hereby adopted and approved as reasonable attorney fees pursuant to Act 1 and Act 20[1] for all matters described, which fees shall be awarded to the municipality, its agents, counsel or assigns in each action initiated pursuant to the Act for the collection of unpaid claims. The property owner's obligation to pay the full amount of the flat fee for each phase of each action shall accrue upon the initiation of any aspect of each phase. The full amount of each flat fee for each prior phase of the proceeding shall carry over and be due on a cumulative basis together with the flat fee for each subsequent phase.
Filing or municipal claim. The sum of $150 shall constitute reasonable attorney fees for the preparation and filing of municipal claims as defined under the Act.
Title search. The actual cost of a title search in an amount not to exceed $250 shall constitute a reasonable expense for the title search necessary for the initiation of each proceeding and compliance with Pa. R.C.P. 3129. The sum not to exceed $50 shall constitute a reasonable expense for each bringdown or update of the title search.
Preparation and service of writ of scire facias or complaint in assumpsit as provided in the Act. The sum of $450 shall constitute reasonable attorney fees for the initiation of each proceeding and shall include preparation and filing of the praecipe for writ of scire pacias or complaint in civil action, Sheriff's direction for service, notice pursuant to Pa. R.C.P. § 237.1 and the preparation and filing of the praecipe to settle and discontinue the proceeding. The above does not include:
Investigation of defendant(s) whereabouts and preparation of affidavit of diligent search: $100.
Writ of execution; Sheriff's sale of property or execution upon assumpsit judgment. The sum of $700 shall constitute reasonable attorney fees for preparation of all documents necessary for each execution upon any judgment pursuant to the Act. This sum shall include the preparation and filing of the praecipe for writ of execution, all Sheriff's documents, preparation and service of notices of Sheriff's sale, staying the writ of execution, and attendance at one Sheriff's sale.
Sale pursuant to § 31 of the Act, 53 P.S. § 7281. The sum of $700 shall constitute reasonable attorney fees for the sale of property pursuant to § 31 of the Act, 53 P.S. § 7281, including preparation and service of necessary documents, court appearances, attendance at sale and preparation of proposed schedule of distribution of the proceeds realized from such sale.
Motions. The sum of $200 shall constitute reasonable attorney fees for the preparation, filing and presentation of motions, other than for alternative service, which shall include, but are not limited to, motions to reassess damages, motions to amend caption, and motions to continue the Sheriff's sale.
Hourly rate matters. The following schedule of attorney fees is hereby adopted and approved as reasonable attorney fees pursuant to Act 1 and Act 20,[2] which fees shall be awarded to the municipality, its agents, counsel or assigns as compensation in all contested matters, and in all other matters not specifically referenced in § 220-78A above, undertaken in connection with the collection of claims: senior attorneys (practicing law for 10 years or more), $185 per hour; junior attorneys (practicing law for less than 10 years), $160 per hour; paralegals, $100 per hour; law clerks, $65 per hour; each as recorded and charged in units of 1/10th of an hour for all time devoted to enforcement and collection of the municipality's claims. Counsel, whether duly employed by the Township's Delinquent Tax Collector, or duly appointed by the municipality, its agents or assigns, shall not deviate from this fee schedule absent a subsequent ordinance amending the same. Hourly rate matters include, but are not limited to, any matters where any defense, objection, motion, petition or appearance is entered in any phase of any proceeding by or on behalf of any defendant or other interested party.
Required notice. The notice required by the Act, as amended, 53 P.S. § 7106, shall be provided in accordance therewith and shall be incorporated into an appropriate delinquency notice of notices sent by the municipality, its agent, counsel or assigns.
Fees to be accrued and claims to be filed. Fees shall accrue for all efforts in collection after the 30th day after the notice, or after the 10th day of any required second notice under the Act, as amended, 53 P.S. § 7106, on all accounts referred to counsel for enforcement. Fees accumulated as a result of enforced collection shall be certified by duly appointed counsel for the municipality authorized to pursue collection of claims pursuant to the Act, or by counsel for the municipality's agents or assigns and, if not collected in due course with the debt as by voluntary payment, shall be included in any claims filed on behalf of the municipality or by its agents or assigns in the course of enforcement including any claims originally filed with the prothonotary, any claims filed with the Sheriff or in any other claims filed or statements provided where attorney fees are due.
The following schedule of charges, expenses and fees (hereinafter collectively referred to as "servicing fees") is hereby approved and adopted by the municipality pursuant to §§ 1, 2, and 3 of the Act of May 16, 1923, as amended, 53 P.S. §§ 7101, 7103 and 7106, which amounts arc the direct result of each person's or property's failure to pay claims promptly. The servicing fees established, assessed, and collected hereunder shall be in addition to the record costs, § 220-78 attorney fees and § 220-77. Expenses associated with legal proceedings initiated by or on behalf of the municipality to collect its claims.
Servicing of a claim or claims may result in voluntary payment without the initiation of enforcement proceedings. It is the intent of this § 220-80 to pass the cost of servicing on to the delinquent person or property as part of each claim. The recovery of servicing fees established herein shall not be contingent upon the initiation of enforcement proceedings. However, such servicing fees are due even where enforcement proceedings are initiated. The purpose of this section is to pass the cost and expense associated with delinquent collection on to the delinquent person or property and to make the municipality whole on all claims collected.
Schedule. The following schedule of fees shall constitute reasonable and appropriate servicing fees for each indicated service. The servicing fees shall be added to and become part of the municipality's claims, together with the face, penalties, interest, costs and attorney fees and shall be payable in full before the discharge or satisfaction of any claim. The schedule of fees is separate and distinct from any amounts imposed by the Sheriff, prothonotary, court or any other public office in connection with the collection of the municipality's claims.
Assignments: $5 per claim.
Filing tax liens: $5 per item.
Satisfactions: $5 per claim.
Tax claim revivals (i.e., S&A): $10 per claim.
Municipal claim revivals: $15 per claim.
Municipal claim/short tax examination: $35 per claim.
Docket service fees: $1.75 per item.
Sheriff sale claim certificates: $50 per case.
Postage: actual cost.
Servicing including staffing, computers, office space, telephones, equipment and materials: 5% of gross collections $100.01 and over; 10% of gross collections $100 and under.
This article shall take effect on the date of enactment set forth below and with respect to attorney fees pursuant to §§ 220-78 and 220-79 shall apply to all taxes, tax claims, tax liens, municipal claims, municipal liens, writs of scire facias, judgments, or executions filed on or after December 19, 1990, or as otherwise provided by law.
In no event shall the municipality's right to charge and collect reasonable attorney fees pursuant to § 220-78 of this article be impaired by the fact that any claim may also include an attorney commission of 5% for claims filed prior to December 19, 1990. Any attorney fees assessed and collected under this or any prior ordinances pursuant to Act 1 shall be in addition to any 5% commission previously included in any claim or judgment thereon.
The charges, expenses and fees set forth in § 220-80 of this article relate to all unpaid claims in favor of the municipality, its agents and assigns, and shall be retroactive to the date of each claim.