Lauren G. Raines

Partner
Legal Assistant
Jessica Brandt
P: 813.559.5578 jbrandt@bradley.com
Representative Experience
  • Transactional Matters
    • Represented lender in connection with $45 million construction loan for 35-story, 61-unit luxury condominium town in downtown Tampa, Florida.

      Represented lender in $24 million construction loan to construct a seven-story, 133-unit apartment complex in Miami, Florida.

      Represented lender in $8 million construction loan to construct a self-storage facility in Southwest Florida.

      Represented lender in $16 million construction loan to construct self-storage facility in New York.

      Represented lender in providing financing to an association to renovate a golf course and country club in Naples, Florida.

      Represented lender in providing financing to multi-jurisdiction gas station operator.

      Represented investment company in connection with $49 million refinance loan secured by luxury apartments.

  • Litigation
    • Represented one of Florida’s largest financial institutions in a complex multi-county mortgage foreclosure action and guarantor litigation involving gas station sites in various locations in Florida. Counsel included assisting the client in successfully foreclosing each site, and advising on Servicemembers Civil Relief Act aspects of the individual guarantors in the litigation.

      Representing one of nation’s leading loan subservicing provider as lead counsel in class action alleging violations of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act based on assertions that automated calls were improperly placed to the borrower’s cellular phone after the borrower revoked consent to be called. Borrower is also seeking to certify a class of all consumers contacted by an automated dialer after revoking consent. Bradley is lead counsel defending both the class and individual claims.

      Representing one of the nation’s leading loan subservicing provider as lead counsel in foreclosure action pending in the Circuit Court of St. John’s County, Florida. Borrower brought a counterclaim alleging violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act based on assertions that client improperly attempted to collect amounts due and owing after the expiration of a forbearance agreement that temporarily postponed payments due to Hurricane Irma. Borrower is seeking to certify a class of all borrowers who received a forbearance plan due to Hurricane Irma and then were required to pay the amounts past due at the end of the forbearance plan.

      Represented national commercial lender in heavily contested consumer mortgage foreclosure action where Bradley prevailed at the trial court level in obtaining final judgment of foreclosure and then, prior to the foreclosure sale, borrower appealed the trial court judgment. Successfully defended the appeal resulting in the judgment being affirmed by the Second District Court of Appeal, State of Florida. Presently, Bradley is handling the Chapter 13 bankruptcy of the borrower, which has stayed the conclusion of the trial court foreclosure action.

      Advised national commercial lender in response to Office of the Comptroller of the Currency’s request to produce all commercial loans where a repossession or foreclosure occurred to determine if the bank has complied with the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act. Specifically, provided guidance on when the SCRA applies to loans made to sole proprietorships, general partnerships, limited liability companies and corporations, as well as individual guarantors of commercial loans.

      Secured significant win and dismissal of 10 active cases for software company and its principal in multiple plaintiff Fair Credit Reporting Act actions in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida. Representation resulted in favorable stipulation that the client provided software to pull credit reports for borrowers based on configurations provided by the lender, without decision making ability by the software company client. The software company and its principal had no interaction with the consumer or were otherwise involved in the credit pull.