Petitioner: DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES
Respondent: TITLE SERVICES DEPOT, INC.
Judges: LARRY J. SARTIN
Agency: Department of Financial Services
Locations: Lauderdale Lakes, Florida
Filed: Dec. 15, 2005
Status: Closed
Settled and/or Dismissed prior to entry of RO/FO on Wednesday, February 15, 2006.
Latest Update: Nov. 17, 2024
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FLORIDA ~
DEPARTMENT OF
FINANCIAL SERVICES
Tae LL NHER FILED
STATE OF FLORIDA
NOV a4 2005
IN THE MATTER OF: Dookeied ny Zager?
CASE NO.: 80789-05-AG
TITLE SERVICES DEPOT, INC.
ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT
TO: Title Services Depot, Inc.
18455 Miramar Parkway #182
Miramar, FL 33029-5871
Title Services Depot, Inc.
3701 Southwest 137 Avenue
Miramar, FL 33027-3210
You, TITLE SERVICES DEPOT, INC., license I.D. #A265843, are hereby notified that
the Chief Financial Officer of the State of Florida has caused to be made an investigation of your
activities while licensed as an insurance agency in this state, as a result of which it is alleged: -
GENERAL ALLEGATIONS
1. Pursuant to Chapter 626, Florida Statutes, you, TITLE SERVICES DEPOT, INC.,,
are currently licensed in this state as a Title Ins Agency (4-12).
2, At all times pertinent to the dates and occurrences referred to herein, you, TITLE
SERVICES DEPOT, INC., were licensed in this state as an insurarice agency,
3, Pursuant to chapter 626, Florida Statutes, the Florida Department of Financial
Services has jurisdiction over your insurance licenses and appointments,
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Ne aes
4, At all times material herein, you, TITLE SERVICES DEPOT, INC. failed to
disburse closing funds in accordance with closing instructions, did not have an appointed agent
in full-time charge of the agency, conducted title insurance business without a valid appointment, _
failed to notify the Department of a change of business address, failed to disclose your interest-
beating account, disbursed moneys on uncollected funds, failed to pay the required 2004
surcharge, and failed to properly issue title insurance policies and make appropriate
disbursements, all of which is hereinafter more fully set forth,
COUNT I
5. The above general allegations are hereby realleged and fully incorporated herein
by reference,
6 You, TITLE SERVICES DEPOT, INC., had an appointment with Fidelity
National Title Insurance Company of New York from March 3, 1998 until cancelled by that
appointing authority on June 5, 2003, as the result of an audit revealing improper escrow account
practices. You, TITLE SERVICES DEPOT, INC., nonetheless continued to sell title insurance
policies after Fune 5, 2003 acting improperly through Attorneys Title Insurance Fund without
having been appointed to do so.
IT IS THEREFORE CHARGED that you, TITLE SERVICES DEPOT, INC., have
violated or are accountable under the following provisions of the Florida Insurance Code and
Rules of the Department of Financial Services which constitute grounds for the suspension or
revocation of your licenses and appointments:
(a) Demonstrated lack of fitness or trustworthiness to represent a title insurer in the
issuance of its commitments, binders, policies of title insurance, or guarantees of title. [Section
626.8437(4), Florida Statutes];
(b) Fraudulent or dishonest practices in the conduct of business under the license or-
appointment. [Section 626.8437(6), Florida Statutes];
Nm
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NH a
(c) Misappropriation, conversion, or unlawful withholding of moneys belonging to title
* insurers or insureds or others and received in conduct of business under the license or
appointment. [Section 626.8437(7), Florida Statutes]:
COUNT I
7. The above general allegations are hereby realleged and fully incorporated herein
by reference.
8. You, TITLE SERVICES DEPOT, INC,, failed to pay the administrative surcharge
assessed by the Department for the year 2004.
IT IS THEREFORE CHARGED that you, TITLE SERVICES DEPOT, INC., have
violated or are accountable under the following provisions of the Florida Insurance Code and
Rules of the Depariment of Financial Services which constitute grounds for the suspension or
revocation of your licenses and appointments:
(a) On or before January 30 of each calendar year, each licensed title insurance agency
shall remit to the Department an administrative surcharge of $200.00. [Section 624.501(27)(e)2.;
Florida Statutes];
COUNT I
9, The above general allegations are hereby tealleged and fully incorporated herein
by reference.
10. You, TITLE SERVICES DEPOT, INC., recorded with the Department a business.
address to be located at 1470 NW 107th Avenue, Suite D, Miami, Florida 33172. The
Department's attempts to communicate with you at that address reveated that such address was
not your business address. Postal information reflected your business address had been moved to
Miramar, Florida and you failed to notify the Department of this occurrence.
IT IS THEREFORE CHARGED that you, TITLE SERVICES DEPOT, INC,, have
violated or are accountable under the following provisions of the Flotida Insurance Code and
Rules of the Department of Financial Services which constitute grounds for the suspension or
revocation of your licenses and appointments:
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(a) Every licensee shall notify the Department in writing within 60 days after a change of
name, residence address, principal business street address, or mailing address. Failure to notify
the department within the required time period shall result in a fine not to exceed $250.00 for the
first offense and for subsequent offenses a fine of not less than $500.00 or suspension or
revocation of the license. [Section 626,551, Florida Statutes]; .
COUNT IV
11, The above general allegations are hereby realleged and fully incorporated herein
by reference,
12, You, TITLE SERVICES, DEPOT, INC., maintained an interest-bearing escrow
account number 137336 at Union Bank. Bank records reveal that during the months of April,
May and June, 2003, you deposited funds received putsuant to real estate closing transactions to
that account without the written consent of the buyer and seller as otherwise required by law.
IT IS THEREFORE CHARGED that you, TITLE SERVICES DEPOT, INC., have
violated or are accountable under the following provisions of the Florida Insurance Code and
Rules of the Department of Financial Services which constitute grounds for the suspension or
revocation of your licenses and appointments: -
(a) Demonstrated lack of fitness ot trustworthiness to engage in the business of
insurance. [Section 626.611(7), Flotida Statutes};
(b) Fraudulent or dishonest practices in the conduct of business under the license or
appointment. [Section 626.8437(6), Florida Statutes]:
(c) Misappropriation, conversion, or unlawful withholding of moneys belonging to title
insurers or insureds or others and received in conduct of business under the license or
appointment. [Section 626.8437(7), Florida Statutes];
(d) Violation of any provision of this code or of any other law applicable to the business
of insurance in the course of dealing under the license or appointment. [Section 626.621(2),
Florida Statutes].
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NU !
COUNT V
13. The above general allegations are hereby realleged and fully incorporated herein
by reference.
14, In or around September 6, 2002, in your closing file number 02-277, the file
, ledger reflects no checks or other disbursements made to the following items as listed in HUD-1
form: title charge lines 1101 through 1111 totaling $877.37; line 1302 — pest inspection to
Ameri-Service for $1,000.00; line 1303 — satisfaction of mortgage for $6.00; line 1305 ~ water
bill for $307.55; line 1306 — water bill for $200.00; Schedule A — final bill for $300.00. The
total of these items is $2,690.92. HUD-1 line 303 indicates cash at settlement from borrower in
the amount of $8,623.19. However, the file ledger card does not show a deposit for this amount.
The file ledger card shows a file shortage of $5,932.27.
ITIS THEREFORE CHARGED that you, TITLE SERVICES DEPOT, INC., have
violated or are accountable under the following provisions of the Florida Insurance Code and
Rules of the Department of Financial Services which constitute grounds for the suspension or
revocation of your licenses and appointments:
(a) Demonstrated lack of fitness or trustworthiness to represent a title insurer in the
issuance of its commitments, binders, policies of title insurance or guarantees of title. [Section
626.8437(4), Florida Statutes}; and
(b) Fraudulent or dishonest practices in the conduct of business under the license or
appointment. [Section 626.8437(6), Florida Statutes}.
COUNT VI
15. The above general allegations are hereby realleged and fully incorporated herein
by reference.
16. In or around February 26, 2003, in your agency closing file number 03-028, the
HUD-1 Settlement Statement line 504 indicates the payoff of a first mortgage loan in the amount
of $65,591.04. Check No. 11854 was issued and paid to Irwin Mortgage for $62,591.04. The
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aed —!
file contains a payoff statement from Irwin Mortgage that confirms the payoff amount due to be
$62,591.04. There was a difference of $3,000.00 reflected in the payoff of such items. HUD-1
line 505 indicates the payoff of a second mortgage loan for the amount of $6,000.00, No
documentation supported the existence of a second mortgage. The file ledger card indicates
check number 118458 issued to Title Services Depot for $5,500.00; check number 11857 issued to
Title Setvices Depot for $3,000.00; check number 11855 issued to ERMAR Enterprises, Inc. for
$500.00. None of these disbursements are listed on the HUD-1 Settlement Statement. HUD-1
line 201 indicates a deposit from the borrower in the amount of $2,000.00, Line 303 indicates
~ cash at settlement from borrower in the amount of $913.54. The file ledger card does not show
deposits for these amount. HUD-I line 603 indicates cash at settlement to seller in the atnount of
$4,580.51. The file ledger card does not show a disbursement check to the seller for this ammount.
File ledger card shows check nunober 11862 was issued and paid to Janna Strijak for $495.00,
Check number 11863 was issued and paid to Title Services Depot for $73.78. Neither of these
disbursements were listed on the HUD-1 Settlement Statement,
17, Further in that closing, HUD-1 line 1108 indicates title insurance premium in the
amount of $800.00, and line 1111 indicates endorsements in the amount of $130.00, thus
providing a total premium charge of $930.00. Promulgated premium not otherwise reflected on
the HUD-1 Settlement Statement was $596.45 which would have caused Fidelity National Title
Insurance Company of New York to have received 30% of that premium or $178.94, You,
TITLE SERVICES DEPOT, INC., through Title Services Depot, Inc., issued check number
11847 to Fidelity National Title Insurance Company of New York in the sum of $178.94, while
according to your agency agreement with that company, the "agent shall pay company thirty
Percent (30%) of the grass premiums on all title insurances issued by agent."
IT 1S THEREFORE CHARGED that you, TITLE SERVICES DEPOT, INC., have
violated or are accountable under the following provisions of the Florida Insurance Code and
Rules of the Department of Financial Services which constitute prounds for the suspension ot
revocation of your licenses and appointments:
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Xe ae)
(a) Demonstrated lack of fitness or trustworthiness to represent a title insurer in the
issuance of its commitments, binders, policies of title insurance or guarantees of title. [Section
626,3437(4), Florida Statutes];
(b) Fraudulent or dishonest practices in the conduct of business under the license or
appointment. [Section 626.8437(6), Florida Statutes);
(c) Misappropriation, conversion, or unlawful withholding of moneys belonging to title
insurers or insureds or others and received in conduct of business under the license or
appointment. [Section 626.8437(7), Florida Statutes;
(d) All funds received by a title insurance agent shall be trust funds received in fiduciary
capacity by the title insurance agent and shall be the property of the person or persons entitled
thereto. [Section 626.8473(2), Florida Statutes;
(2) A title insurance agent, or any officer, director or employee thereof, or any person
associated therewith as an independent contractor for bookkeeping or similar purposes, who
‘converts or misappropriates funds received or held in escrow or in trust of such title insurance
agent, or any person who normally receives or conspires to receive such funds commits either a
misdemeanor or felony dependent upon the amount of funds converted or misappropriated,
[Section 626.8473(7), Florida Statutes]; and
(f) A person may not knowingly quote, charge, accept, collect, or receive a premium for
title insurance other than the premium adopted by the commission. [Section 627.780(t), Florida
Statutes],
COUNT VIL
18. The above general allegations are hereby realleged and fully incorporated herein
by reference,
19. In or around March 14, 2003, in your closing file number 03-036, the HUD-I line
504 indicates payoff of the first mortgage loan in the amount of $275,000.00, Check number
12101 was issued and paid to Household Mortgage Services for $268,903.73 thus creating a
’ difference of $6,096.27,
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20, HUD-1 line 1108 indicates title insurance in the amount of $3,540.95 and line
1111 indicates endorsements in the amount of $427.60. Total premiums were thus charged
amounting to $3,968.55. Promulgated premium rate was $1,592.50 representing a 30% premium
of $477.75 due Fidelity National Title Insurance Company of New York under the promulgated
premium rate. Check number 12116 was issued to F idelity National Title in that sum which was
not 30% of the gross premium charged on the HUD-1 Settlement Statement.
Ir IS THEREFORE CHARGED that you, TITLE SERVICES DEPOT, INC., have
violated or are accountable under the following provisions of the Florida Insurance Code and
Rules of the Department of Financial Services which constitute grounds for the suspension or
revocation of your licenses and appointments:
(a) Demonstrated lack of fitness or trustworthiness to represent a title insurer in the
issuance of its commitments, binders, policies of title insurance or guarantees of title, [Section
626.8437(4), Florida Statutes];
(b) Fraudulent or dishonest practices in the conduct of business under the license or
appointment. [Section 626.8437(6), Florida Statutes];
(c) Misappropriation, conversion, or unlawful withholding of moneys belonging io title
insurers or insureds or others and received in conduct of business under the license or
appointment. [Section 626.8437(7), Florida Statutes;
(d) All funds received by a title insurance agent shall be trust funds received in fiduciary
capacity by the title insurance agent and shall be the property of the person or petsons entitled
theteto. [Section 626.8473(2), Florida Statutes;
(e) A title insurance agent, or any officer, director or employee thereof, or any person
associated therewith as an independent contractor for bookkeeping or similar purposes, who
converts or misappropriates funds received or held in escrow or in trust of such title insurance
agent, or any person who normally receives or conspires to zeceive such funds commits either a
misdemeanor or felony dependent upon the amount of funds converted or misappropriated.
[Section 626.8473(7), Florida Statutes]; and
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Ne woe
(f) A person may not knowingly quote, charge, accept, collect, or receive a premium for
title insurance other than the premium adopted by the commission. [Section 627.780(1), Florida
Statutes]. ,
COUNT VI ‘
21. ‘The above general allegations are hereby realleged and fully incorporated herein
by teference.
22. In its investigation of your activities as a licensed title insurance agency, the
Department has examined over twenty (20) separate closing files in which you charged and
collected premium sums in excess of the promulgated rate and failed to remit the required
premium share to the underwriter whom you represented,
TT IS THEREFORE CHARGED that you, TITLE SERVICES DEPOT, INC.,
have violated or are accountable under the following provisions of the Florida Insurance Code
and Rules of the Department of Financial Services which constitute grounds for the suspension
or revocation of your licenses and appointments:
(a) Demonstrated lack of fitness or trustworthiness to represent a title insurer in the
issuance of its commitments, binders, policies of title insurance or guarantees of title. [Section
626.8437(4), Florida Statutes);
(b) Fraudulent or dishonest practices in the conduct of business under the license or
appointment. [Section 626.8437(6), Florida Statutes);
(c) Misappropriation, conversion, or unlawful withholding of moneys belonging to title
insurers or insureds or others and received in conduct of business under the license or
appointment. [Section 626,8437(7), Florida Statutes;
(d) A title insurance agent, or any officer, director or employee thereof, or any person
associated therewith as an independent contractor for bookkeeping or similar purposes, who
converts or misappropriates finds received or beld in escrow or in trust of such title insurance
agent, or any person who normally receives or conspires to receive such funds commits either a
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ed . Soe
misdemeanor or felony dependent upon the amount of funds converted or misappropriated.
[Section 626.8473(7), Florida Statutes]; and
(e) A person may not knowingly quote, charge, accept, collect, or receive a premium for
title insurance other than the premium adopted by the commission. [Section 627.780(1), Florida
Statutes].
WHEREFORE, you, TITLE SERVICES DEPOT, INC., are hereby notified that the
Chief Financial Officer intends to enter an Order suspending or revoking your licenses and
appointments as an insurance agent or to impose such penalties as may be provided under the
provisions of Sections 626.611, 626.621, 626.681, 626.691, and 626.9521, Florida Statutes, and
_ under the other referenced Sections of the Florida Statutes as set out in this Administrative
Complaint.
NOTICE OF RIGHTS
You have the right to request a proceeding to contest this action by the Department
pursuant to Sections 120,569 and 120.57, Florida Statutes, and Rule 28-107, Florida
Administrative Code. The proceeding request rust be in writing, signed by you, and must be
filed with the Department within twenty-one (21) days of your receipt of this notice, Completion
of the attached Election of Proceeding form and/or a petition for administrative hearing will
suffice as a written request. The request must be filed with the General Counsel as acting .
Agency Clerk, at the Florida Department of Financial Services, 612 Larson Building, 200 East -
Gaines Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0333. Your written response must be received by the
Department no later than 5:00 p.m. on the twenty-first day after your receipt of this notice.
Mailing the response on the twenty-first day will not preserve your right to a hearing.
YOUR FAILURE TO RESPOND IN WRITING WITHIN
TWENTY-ONE (21) DAYS OF YOUR RECEIPT OF THIS
NOTICE WILL CONSTITUTE A WAIVER OF YOUR
RIGHT TO REQUEST A PROCEEDING ON THE
MATTERS ALLEGED HEREIN AND AN ORDER OF
“REVOCATION WILL BE ENTERED AGAINST YOU.
10
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Je you request a proceeding, you must provide information that coraplies with the
requirements of Rule 28-107.004, Florida Administrative Code, As noted above, completion of
the attached Election of Proceeding form conforms to these requirements. Specifically, your
Tesponse must contain:
(a) The name and address of the party making the request, for purpose of service;
(bt) =A statement that the party is requesting a hearing involving disputed issues of
material fact, or a hearing not involving disputed issues of material fact; and
(c) Areference to the notice, order to show cause, administrative complaint, or other
communication that the party bas received from the agency.
Ifa hearing of any type is requested, you have the right to be represented by counsel or
other qualified representative at your expense, to present evidence and argument, to call and
cross-examine witnesses, and to compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of
documents by subpoena.
Ifa proceeding is requested and there is no dispute of material fact, the provisions of
Section 120.57(2), Florida Statutes, apply. In this regard, you may submit oral or written
evidence in opposition to the action taken by the Department or a written statement challenging
the grounds upon which the Department has relied. While a hearing is normally not required in
the absence of a dispute of fact, if you feel that a hearing is necessary, one will be conducted in
Tallahassee, Florida, ot by telephonic conference call upon your request.
However, if you dispute material facts which are the basis for the Department’s action,
you must request an adversarial proceeding pursuant to Sections 120.569 and 120.57(1), Florida
Statutes. These proceedings are held before a State administrative law Judge of the Division of
Adtinistrative Hearings. Unless the majority of witnesses are located elsewhere, the
Department will request that the hearing be conducted in Tallahassee, Florida.
Failure to follow the procedure outlined with regard to your response to this notice may
result in the request being denied. All prior oral communication or correspondence in this matter
shall be considered freeform agency action, and no such oral communication or correspondence
11
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-_ a)
shall operate as a valid request for an administrative proceeding, Any request for an
administrative proceeding received prior to the date of this notice shall be deemed abandoned
unless timely renewed in compliance with the guidelines as set out above.
Mediation of this matter pursuant to Section 120.573, Florida Statutes, is not available.
No Department attorney will discuss this matter with you until the response has been received by
the Department of Financial Services.
DATED and SIGNED this [YD day of Upvembe c_, 2005.
)
N CHANDLER
Deputy Chief Financial Officer
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
THEREBY CERTIFY that a true and correct copy of the foregoing ADMINISTRATIVE
COMPLAINT and ELECTION OF PROCEEDING has been furnished to; TITLE SERVICES
DEPOT, INC., Title Services Depot, Jnc., 18455 Miramar Parkway #182, Mitamar, FL 33029-
5871; and TITLE SERVICES DEPOT, INC., 3701 Southwest 137 Avenue, Miramar, FL 33027-
3210 by Certified Mail this (40h day of (Vevem be 2005
Dean Andrews :
Division of Legal Services
200 East Gaines St.
612 Larson Building
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-033
(850) 413-4242 Phone
(850) 487-4907 Fax
Florida Bar Number 0001959
Docket for Case No: 05-004546
Issue Date |
Proceedings |
Mar. 29, 2006 |
Undeliverable envelope returned from the Post Office.
|
Feb. 15, 2006 |
Order Closing Files. CASE CLOSED.
|
Feb. 14, 2006 |
Motion to Relinquish Jurisdiction (filed in Case No. 05-2741).
|
Feb. 14, 2006 |
Motion to Relinquish Jurisdiction (filed in Case No. 05-4546).
|
Feb. 08, 2006 |
Respondent`s Witness and Exhibit List filed.
|
Feb. 08, 2006 |
Amended Notice of Hearing by Video Teleconference (hearing scheduled for February 15, 2006; 9:30 a.m.; Lauderdale Lakes and Tallahassee, FL; amended as to video and location).
|
Feb. 02, 2006 |
Petitioner`s Notice of Inability to Confer with Respondent`s Counsel filed.
|
Feb. 02, 2006 |
Petitioner`s Amended Witness and Exhibit List filed.
|
Jan. 04, 2006 |
Order Granting Continuance and Re-scheduling Hearing (hearing set for February 15, 2006; 9:30 a.m.; Fort Lauderdale, FL).
|
Jan. 03, 2006 |
Order of Consolidation (consolidated cases are: 05-2741PL and 05-4546).
|
Dec. 22, 2005 |
Petitioner`s Response to Initial Order filed.
|
Dec. 15, 2005 |
Administrative Complaint filed.
|
Dec. 15, 2005 |
Election of Proceeding filed.
|
Dec. 15, 2005 |
Agency referral filed.
|
Dec. 15, 2005 |
Initial Order.
|