Opinion
No. 4D11-1999
02-29-2012
TIDEWATER ESTATES CO-OP, INC., a Florida not-for-profit corporation, and all other unknown parties including claimants, persons or parties, natural or corporate, or whose legal status is unknown, claiming under any of the above named defendants, Appellants, v. U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as trustee for the registered holders of MLCFC Commercial Mortgage Trust 2006-1, Commercial Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2006-1, Appellee.
Scott J. Wortman of Korte & Wortman, PA, West Palm Beach, for appellants. Lori L. Heyer-Bednar, Mark D. Kushner and Vijay G. Brijbasi of Roetzel & Andress, LPA, Fort Lauderdale, for appellee.
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We find no abuse of discretion in the trial court's order sequestering rents. See Whud Real Estate Ltd. P'ship v. Oak Grove, Ltd., 699 So. 2d 842 (Fla. 3d DCA 1997). Lack of standing is an affirmative defense to foreclosure. See, e.g., Glynn v. First Union Nat'l Bank, 912 So. 2d 357, 358 (Fla. 4th DCA 2005). Section 697.07(4), Florida Statutes (2011), provides that a court may order sequestration of rents "notwithstanding any asserted defenses or counterclaims of the mortgagor." In ruling on a motion to sequester rents, a court should refrain from conclusively ruling on affirmative defenses. See Whetstone P'ship v. Gen. Elec. Capital Corp., 666 So. 2d 194 (Fla. 2d DCA 1995).
Affirmed. GROSS, CIKLIN and LEVINE, JJ., concur.
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Appeal of a non-final order from the Circuit Court for the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit, Broward County; Michele Towbin Singer, Judge; L.T. Case No. 10-21953 18 CACE.
Scott J. Wortman of Korte & Wortman, PA, West Palm Beach, for appellants.
Lori L. Heyer-Bednar, Mark D. Kushner and Vijay G. Brijbasi of Roetzel & Andress, LPA, Fort Lauderdale, for appellee.
Not final until disposition of timely filed motion for rehearing.