Our mediation practice includes mediation of business disputes, real estate disputes, mortgage modifications in bankruptcy, and HOA disputes

Mediation

Mediation is a process whereby a neutral third person called a mediator acts to encourage and facilitate the resolution of a dispute between two or more parties. It is an informal and nonadversarial process with the objective of helping the disputing parties reach a mutually acceptable and voluntary agreement.

In mediation, decision-making authority rests with the parties. The role of the mediator includes, but is not limited to, assisting the parties in identifying issues, fostering joint problem solving, and exploring settlement alternatives. The mediator is a neutral, impartial third person who facilitates the mediation process.

The mediator’s role is to reduce obstacles to communication, assist in identifying issues, explore alternatives, and otherwise facilitate voluntary agreements to resolve disputes, without prescribing what the resolution will be. Mediation may be voluntary or court-ordered. As a Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Civil Mediator, Mr. McCorvey acts as a mediator in disputes involving over $15,000 in controversy.

HOA Mediation

Under Florida law, disputes between a homeowners’ association and a parcel owner regarding use of or changes to the parcel or the common areas and other covenant enforcement disputes, disputes regarding amendments to the association documents, disputes regarding meeting of the board and committees appointed by the board, membership meetings not including election meetings, and access to the official records of the association shall be the subject of a demand for presuit mediation served by an aggrieved party before the dispute is filed in court. Presuit mediation proceedings must be conducted in accordance with the applicable Florida Rules of Civil Procedure, and these proceedings are privileged and confidential to the same extent as court-ordered mediation. Fla. Stat. § 720.311(2)(a)

Mortgage Modification Mediation in Bankruptcy

The subprime mortgage crisis in 2008 resulted in record numbers of residential loan defaults and foreclosure lawsuits being filed across the United States. In 2008 and 2009, Congress enacted laws implementing the Home Affordable Modification Program, also known as HAMP, a federal program set up to help eligible home owners with loan modifications of their home mortgage debt. The program was built as a collaboration with lenders, investors, securities, mortgage servicers, the FHA, the VA, FHLMC, FNMA, and the Federal Housing Finance Agency, to create standard loan modification guidelines for lenders to take into consideration when evaluating a borrower for potential loan modification.

In 2012, 49 state attorneys general and the federal government announced a historic joint federal-state settlement with the country’s five largest mortgage servicers. Under the settlement, the servicers are required to provide up to $17 billion in principal reduction and other forms of loan modification relief nationwide. The Orlando Division of the Middle District of Florida, United States Bankruptcy Court, became among the first courts in the nation, and a national leader, in implementing a residential mortgage modification mediation program in bankruptcy proceedings in an attempt to increase the number of residential loan modifications.

Effective August 15, 2014, the U. S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Florida adopted uniform district-wide mortgage modification mediation procedures, including the expansion of mortgage modification mediation to all cases for any type of real property.

Other bankruptcy courts throughout the state of Florida, as well as the nation, including the Jacksonville Division of the United States Bankruptcy Court of the Middle District of Florida, have followed suit by implementing residential mortgage modification mediation programs. On January 31, 2013, an Administrative Order Prescribing Procedures for Mortgage Modification Mediator Certification was entered by Judge Jennemann in the Orlando Divison of the U. S. Bankruptcy Court, Middle District of Florida. The order imposes certain eligibility and training requirements for mediators seeking approval as mortgage modification mediators in bankruptcy court. The list is utilized throughout the Middle District of Florida, including the Jacksonville Division. Mr. McCorvey has met the eligibility requirements, completed the requisite training, and is listed as an approved Mortgage Modification Mediator for the Middle District of Florida. While the HAMP program has ended, there remain other options for borrowers to modify their mortgages under a variety of alternative programs.