Code Enforcement wrongly fined me over $150,000; Need help with Appeal (Florida)

[Magicfan]

What is the name of your state? Florida

Hey guys,

I just signed up after browing for a while. I was wrongly fined over $150,000 by code enforcement board. I went for a reduction of fine and they didn't let me speak at the meeting to address my issues. They simply denied my consideration for penalty reduction. They reduced almost everyone else 10%,5%, or totally removed the penalty. I then recieved a notice in the mail claiming that my property was in compliance and that they denied reduction of penalty. But at the bottom of the letter, it said that the fine has been rescinded with a later date than the court date and that the person signing it is certifying that the letter rescinding the fines will be mailed to my address. Obviously this is a tactic they are using to trick property owners. Then within 30 days I appealed the decision in the court..Sent out an initial brief but I guess I did it incorrectly because my initial brief was like 5 pages and it basically mentioned the whole story. They then sent me a letter saying that the appellant wants the judge to dismiss the case because it is not in proper format. What should I do?

I need help drafting an initial brief so I can do it properly. Most likely, I hope, the judge is going to send me a letter saying to redo it properly. Can anyone offer any advice or help me draft an initial brief. From what I understand, they are suppose to be short. I guess what I sent in as an initial brief is considered an "Ammended brief"?

Thanks for your help.

Before anyone asks, I am having financial difficulties so I can't afford a lawyer but I don't qualify for the free legal service either unless you guys know any others. I lost my income because the city penalized me over $1,000,000 in code violations on property that isn't even worth $200,000. After 4 years of fighting and running out of monetary resources, I finally settled by giving the property up. Now they are doing the same thing to one of my other properties which will be worth a lot in the next few years.

[divgradcurl]

Originally Posted by Magicfan

What is the name of your state? Florida

Hey guys,

I just signed up after browing for a while. I was wrongly fined over $150,000 by code enforcement board. I went for a reduction of fine and they didn't let me speak at the meeting to address my issues. They simply denied my consideration for penalty reduction. They reduced almost everyone else 10%,5%, or totally removed the penalty. I then recieved a notice in the mail claiming that my property was in compliance and that they denied reduction of penalty. But at the bottom of the letter, it said that the fine has been rescinded with a later date than the court date and that the person signing it is certifying that the letter rescinding the fines will be mailed to my address. Obviously this is a tactic they are using to trick property owners. Then within 30 days I appealed the decision in the court..Sent out an initial brief but I guess I did it incorrectly because my initial brief was like 5 pages and it basically mentioned the whole story. They then sent me a letter saying that the appellant wants the judge to dismiss the case because it is not in proper format. What should I do?

I need help drafting an initial brief so I can do it properly. Most likely, I hope, the judge is going to send me a letter saying to redo it properly. Can anyone offer any advice or help me draft an initial brief. From what I understand, they are suppose to be short. I guess what I sent in as an initial brief is considered an "Ammended brief"?

Thanks for your help.

Before anyone asks, I am having financial difficulties so I can't afford a lawyer but I don't qualify for the free legal service either unless you guys know any others. I lost my income because the city penalized me over $1,000,000 in code violations on property that isn't even worth $200,000. After 4 years of fighting and running out of monetary resources, I finally settled by giving the property up. Now they are doing the same thing to one of my other properties which will be worth a lot in the next few years.

Go to a local library, or local law library, or local bookstore or Amazon or whatever, and find a book that will walk you through the filing of your own case. Here's a couple of examples from Amazon (NOTE: I have not personally seen or reviewed these books, so I have no idea whether they are good or not other than the Amazon ratings -- maybe someone else has a book they recommend): [url]http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0399527303/sr=1-3/qid=1154361929/ref=pd_bbs_3/102-3715257-3101723?ie=UTF8&s=books[/url], [url]http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/087337908X/sr=1-1/qid=1154361929/ref=pd_bbs_1/102-3715257-3101723?ie=UTF8&s=books[/url].

[Magicfan]

Originally Posted by divgradcurl

Go to a local library, or local law library, or local bookstore or Amazon or whatever, and find a book that will walk you through the filing of your own case. Here's a couple of examples from Amazon (NOTE: I have not personally seen or reviewed these books, so I have no idea whether they are good or not other than the Amazon ratings -- maybe someone else has a book they recommend): [url]http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0399527303/sr=1-3/qid=1154361929/ref=pd_bbs_3/102-3715257-3101723?ie=UTF8&s=books[/url], [url]http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/087337908X/sr=1-1/qid=1154361929/ref=pd_bbs_1/102-3715257-3101723?ie=UTF8&s=books[/url].

Thanks for the info. I think I'll do that for reference.

Where can I find laws about code enforcement and violations. Process of fine reduction etc. When or why the code enforcement board reduces the fines. There has to be some sort of guideline. Also info on whether the fines can exceed a certain limit (property value. etc.)

On my other properties (valued at around 200-300k), I was fined 1.3 million and had to settle by letting the properties go for free. Is there any kind of protection for property owners from this?

Thanks for your help guys

[divgradcurl]

Where can I find laws about code enforcement and violations. Process of fine reduction etc. When or why the code enforcement board reduces the fines. There has to be some sort of guideline. Also info on whether the fines can exceed a certain limit (property value. etc.)

Google, you local library or bookstore, maybe your local city hall or county seat will have publically-available local regulations. Your best bet it to see if you have a law library somewhere close enough to get to, they would be more likely to have what you are looking for, and might be able to help you with the research.

On my other properties (valued at around 200-300k), I was fined 1.3 million and had to settle by letting the properties go for free. Is there any kind of protection for property owners from this?

We have no idea what sort of code violations were found, and what was done, what really happened, etc. -- so there is no way to easily determine what really happened, and what protections their might be.

[Magicfan]

Originally Posted by divgradcurl

Google, you local library or bookstore, maybe your local city hall or county seat will have publically-available local regulations. Your best bet it to see if you have a law library somewhere close enough to get to, they would be more likely to have what you are looking for, and might be able to help you with the research.



We have no idea what sort of code violations were found, and what was done, what really happened, etc. -- so there is no way to easily determine what really happened, and what protections their might be.

I have a long list of things I could go into detail but I guess the past is the past. One of which included them demolishing one of my properties without my permission. Nothing was wrong with the property. Thanks for yoru help.