IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF

THE FIFTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT

IN AND FOR PALM BEACH COUNTY, FLORIDA

CASE NO.: 502016-CA-009292

DIVISION AW

FIRST AMERICAN BANK, as

successor by merger to Bank of
Coral Gables, LLC,

Plaintiff,

V.

LAURENCE S. SCHNEIDER,
STEPHANIE L. SCHNEIDER, et al.,

______________
Defendants.
/

LAURENCE S. SCHNEIDER,

Counter-Plaintiff,

V.

FIRST AMERICAN BANK, as

successor by merger to Bank of
Coral Gables, LLC,

Counter-Defendant.
- - - - - - - - - - - - -I
MOTION FOR SANCTIONS
PURSUANT TO FLA. STAT. § 57 .105
FDUTPA

COMES NOW the Counter-Defendant, FIRST AMERICAN BANK (hereinafter

"FIRST AMERICAN"), by and through its undersigned counsel, and in accordance with

Fla. Stat.§ 57.105 and Florida law generally, hereby serves this its Motion for Sanctions
Pursuant to Fla. Stat.§ 57.105 in the way of attorneys' fees, costs, expenses and interest

against the Counter-Plaintiff, LAURENCE S. SCHNEIDER, and against KENNETH ERIC

TRENT, ESQUIRE, and in support thereof states as follows:

Chronology of Events

On August 17, 2016, FIRST AMERICAN filed its Verified Foreclosure Complaint

directed to, among other, LAURENCE S. SCHNEIDER and STEPHANIE L. SCHNEIDER.

On November 16, 2016, LAURENCE S. SCHNEIDER filed his three-Count

Counterclaim against FIRST AMERICAN (together with this Answer and Affirmative

Defenses).

On January 26, 2017, Circuit Court Judge Susan Lubitz entered an Order

dismissing all three Counts of LAURENCE S. SCHNEIDER's Counterclaim; the Order of

Dismissal did, however, allow LAURENCE S. SCHNEIDER the opportunity to file an

Amended Counterclaim.

On March 6, 2017, LAURENCE S. SCHNEIDER filed his Amended Counterclaim

which included 5 separate Counts.

Memorandum of Law

Count 3 of LAURENCE S. SCHNEIDER's Amended Counterclaim attempts to

state a claim against FIRST AMERICAN for "Violation of the Florida Unfair and Deceptive

Trade Practices Act [sic]." Florida's Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act

("FDUTPA") is set out in its entirety in Fla. Stat. Chap. 501 §§ 501.201 through 501.213.

Fla. Stat. § 501.212 is entitled "Application" and makes it clear that banks which

are subject to regulation by Federal agencies are simply not subject to FDUTPA claims.

Specifically, the statute reads:

Page 2 of 5
 This part does not apply to:
* * *
(4) any person or activity regulated under laws administered
by:
* * *
(c) banks or savings and loan associations regulated by
federal agencies; ...

Fla. Stat.§ 501.212(4)(c). FIRST AMERICAN is a bank regulated by the Federal Deposit

Insurance Corporation ("FDIC"). FIRST AMERICAN's FDIC Certificate No. is 2657, as

reflected by Exhibit "A" hereto. 1

Since FIRST AMERICAN is a bank regulated by a federal agency, Counter-

Plaintiff's, LAURENCE S. SCHNEIDER, cause of action under FDUTPA is not, and

cannot, be supported by application of existing law. See See Cornwall v. Third Fed. Sav.

& Loan, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 96920 (M.D. Fla. July 25, 2016); Green v. Capital One

Bank (USA), N.A., 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 11842 (M.D. Fla. Feb. 2, 2015); Regions Bank

v. Legal Outsource PA, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 162248 (M.D. Fla. Dec. 3, 2015); Office of

the AG Dep't of Legal Affairs v. Commerce Commercial Leasing, LLC, 946 So. 2d 1253

(Fla. 1st DCA 2007); and Bankers Trust Co. v. Basciano, 960 So. 2d 773 (Fla. 5th DCA

2007)

It is difficult to conceive of a situation where a Florida statutory cause of action is

so completely inapplicable. LAURENCE S. SCHNEIDER's FDUTPA cause of action

should be immediately dismissed with prejudice.

This Court can take judicial notice of the fact that FIRST AMERICAN is regulated
by the FDIC. Regions Bank v. Kaplan, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 43607, * 34 (M.D. Fla.
March 31, 2014).

Page 3 of 5
 FIRST AMERICAN demands that the Counter-Plaintiff, LAURENCE S.

SCHNEIDER, immediately and voluntarily dismiss Count 3 of his Amended Counterclaim

(FDUTPA) with prejudice.

FIRST AMERICAN, in accordance with Fla. Stat. §57.105(4), served a copy of this

Motion for Sanctions on Counter-Plaintiff's counsel on March 14, 2017. The filing of this

Motion for Sanctions with the Court reflects the failure of the Counter-Plaintiff,

LAURENCE S. SCHNEIDER, and/or KENNETH ERIC TRENT, ESQUIRE to have

voluntarily dismissed Count 3 of LAURENCE S. SCHNEIDER'S Amended Counterclaim

within 21 days of service of this Motion for Sanctions.

WHEREFORE, the Counter-Defendant, FIRST AMERICAN BANK, in accordance

with Fla. Stat. §57 .105, respectfully requests this Court to enter an appropriate award of

sanctions, in the form of attorneys' fees, costs, expenses and interest in equal amounts

against the Counter-Plaintiff, LAURENCE S. SCHNEIDER, and KENNETH ERIC TRENT,

ESQUIRE, together with such further and other relief as the Court deems just and

appropriate under the circumstances.

Respectfully submitted,

KELLER & BOLZ, LLP

Attorneys for Counter-Defendant
FIRST AMERICAN BANK
121 Majorca Avenue, #200
Coral Gables, FL 33134
Telephone: (305) 529-8500
Telefax: (305) 529-0228
Emal bolz@kellerbolz.com

By:_.__-1t--r-;::,-,-;--~--"1t""-----

ar o.

Page 4 of 5
 CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

WE HEREBY CERTIFY that a true and correct copy of the foregoing Motion for

Sanctions was delivered to: KENNETH ERIC TRENT, ESQ. (trentlawoffice@yahoo.com),

Trent Law Office, Attorneys for Laurence and Stephanie Schneider, 831 East Oakland

Park Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33334 via Email and U.S. Mail on this 14th day of March,

2017.

KELLER BOLZ, LLP

By:~B~-~ olz, Ill

Page 5 of 5
 FDIC: s'ankFind Search Details https://research. fdic.gov/bankfind/detai I.htm l?bank==3 65 7&name= Firs ...

First American Bank (FDIC # 3657)

Active Insured Since January 1, 1934

Data as of: February 26, 2017
First American Bank is an active bank

FDIC Certificate#: 3657 Established: March 26, 1901 Corporate Website:

Headquarters: 700 Busse Road Insured: January 1, 1934 http://www.firstambank.com
Elk Grove Village, ISank Charter Non-member of the Consumer Assistance:
60007 Class: Federal Reserve
Cook County https://www5.fdic.gov/starsmail
System /index.asp
Locations: 51 domestic in 2 Regulated By: Federal Deposit
states, Insurance Contact the FDIC about:
0 in territories, and 0 Corporation First American Bank
in foreign locations

Locations History Identifications Financials Other Names /

Websites

Showing 1 to 25 of 51 entries
I I
' UNINUM Number! Name Address County City ] State Zip Service Type ' Established Acquired
Date Date
Full Service
440179 59 95 Merrick Way Br ·2295 Galiano Miami-Dade Coral Gables !FL 33134 Brick and Mortar 06/05/2006
Street 12/05/2014
--+-- .......... ............,.... ···················--··· ••• •v•••••• ... .. .............. ........
_. , ._ . ; ..............•
Office
1780 West Full Service
254486 16 Addison Branch Fullerton Dupage Addison [IL 60101 Brick and Mortar 10/31/1986 08/02/1991
Avenue Office
Full Service
357831 [34 Aurora Branch !3054 East New 'oupage /Aurora !IL 60504 Brick and Mortar 05/01/2000
York Street Office
/Full Service
970 S. Route
452981 [44 Bartlett Branch
59
Dupage Bartlett [IL 60103 Brick and Mortar 09/16/2005
Office
Full Service :
;15 !so Stratford
15589 •Stratford Branch
)Square Drive !Dupage ,Bloomingdale ill 60108 Brick and Mortar: 12/29/1976 08/02/1991
Office
' [1290 W.
':Bolingbrook 'IL ;Full Service :
i245787 28 Bolingbrook Branch !Boughton 'Will 60440 : Brick and Mortar /02/09/1999 09/13/1999
:Road iOffice
' !739 E. [Full Service ;
!453033 49 Bolingbrook Ii Branch !Boughton !Will Bolingbrook 'IL 60440 ; Brick and Mortar , 12/19/2005
,Road 'Office
Full Service ,
!245785 26 Bourbonnais Facility [288 North Main !Kankakee Bourbonnais ;IL 60914 Brick and Mortar107/24/1978 i09/13/1999
:Street : Office i
' Full Service :
[3927 :one Bank
8 Buffalo Grove Branch !Lake Buffalo Grove Brick and Mortar [09/12/1912 !oe,0211991
'Lane
................... ............ ... Office i
261 s We t · ; ; Full Service l
242775 i1 Springhill Branch · s em !Kane [Carpentersville !,. IL 60110 Brick and Mortar [09/13/1983 10810211991
Ave. , Office
- - - - - •••·•••• ••·•· •··..•···• .. • • " ' • • • • • S - - - - • - - - - n - • • • V • •• • • • • • • • • · ·• • • v•••· ••·•••• • • - - - - - - , . - - - • • • • • • • • • • ••·•· - ··••- - - - - ~
Full Service
' .
:5000 North 60630 Brick and Mortar j07/25/1957 08/02/1991
11736 12 North Elston Branch IElston Avenue Cook !Chicago IL
Office :
- - + - - - - t - - - - - - - - - . - - - - - - 1 - - , - - - - - - - - - + - - I•· .. ---·-
. Full Service
· '1345 West
201687 18 Dive rsey Branch Cook ichicago IL 60614 Brick and Mortar 04/15/1996
IDiversey Office
;33 West Full Service
201688 19
--+----+- M-on_ r_o_e _B_ra_n_c_
h _ _ _:_ M_on_r_o: .... ~~-ok_ _ _:_ c _hi_ca_g_o___
1
6~~03J~~ea~d :~~
1_0,_3_0,_1_9_
91_ __,J ___ / ~°.~~c.j
1356 W. ; · i Full Service i
357830 33 Lincoln Park Branch !Armitage :cook !Chicago j1L 160614 Brick and Mortar [04/26/2000
;Avenue i Office :

,442606 41 ,Morgan Park Branch

. 111821 S.
:Western :Cook Chicago ill
Full Service
I
;
i60643 Brick and Mortar:11/01/2004
r
'Avenue Office ;
·----, · ·-·-·-········-·-····· .. · - - - - - - - - - - +
1450439 [43
Chicago - IArcher ;4501 South :cook iChicago jlL
Full Service ,
/60632 Brick and Mortar :04/03/2006
iHeights Branch !Pulaski Road

, A,
\ .Office · -- - - ~ -- - - -

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 FDIC: BankFi.nd Search Details https://research.fdic.gov/bankfind/detail .html?bank=3657&name=Firs ...
~

: UNINUM Numbe r! Name Address County

Ii City State : Zip Service Type
Established
Date
Acquired
Date
Ij
, : !
. .... . Chicago - South 1241 S. - -- -! Full Service - ~
452985 ,48 i Wabash Branch .... ::e~tS: · Cook -1· Cchh i··ccaagg o IL _ ~~~~~ ~r\f~and Mortar 09/14/2005 .... .

.465841 ; 51
.
;.......... ,.. .. ·~-. · 1·······

jStreeterville Branch
: 643 North
; Fairbanks
'
' Cook 1 0 IL 60611
Full Service ,
Brick and Mortar:03/26/2007
·······•······- ..... c•·
I D_a_r-ie_n_B_r-an_c_h_ _ _ · :~;~;\ 5th r·D-u-pa_g_e_ _ l_
D_a_
rie_n__ ' IL 60561 [~J=~~c~ortar' o1/23/2006 ........ . . ... ~ ,
52983 !46
1 _ _ __ _ _ _-/ Street .~!_ _ _ _i.. Office

i201685 !• . -1-·
~_·u_
nd_e_e_B
_r_a_nc_h____ J~i~
;; st
Main .,l ..Ka
_ n_e___-+_ L..-·-·••..-
D_un_d_e_e_ ......... ·, .i_ ,!. .
!6_0_1_1_8 -+--~--Wi.. =_~-~-c~-0--·r·t·a·..r··:"11/~~/.1 ~.~8-. __,_______,!
! 2335 ! IFirst American Bank ' ~~~:usse .... ,.C
.....o
····o
··· ..k.......... ______ . ............. ..................... ..

i442607 .. i~? .....1 =~irstambank.com . ~~~:usse Cook

,
489493 155
lElk Grove Village 721 Meacham
Cook Elk Grove
IL
Full Service
60007 Brick and Mortar! 03/11/2009
! Branch Road Village
·l----..-....... I . . ............. _____, Office · -·····-··-- •····-·".••--·"
' ......... ,,.. .. ...........................

465842 52 I 3221 West

Evergreen Park Branch 87th Street Cook Evergreen
IL
Full Service
60805 Brick and Mortar: 09/19/2006
1-------r-- .
201689 20 •Geneva Branch
1789 South
Kane
Park

Geneva IL
Office
Full Service
60134 Brick and Mortar : 05/14/1998
Randall Road
..Office

2 of2 3/13/2017 12:12 PM