Article Courtesy of The
Ledger
By John Chambliss
Published July 4, 2018
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BARTOW — A lawsuit filed by a homeowner’s association states that a candidate
for circuit judge and her husband did not pay their maintenance fees for nearly
two years.
A one-day trial is expected to begin on Tuesday before County Judge Susan Barber
in a case filed by Clubhouse Heritage Property Owners’ Association, Inc.,
against Melissa Gravitt, a candidate for a seat on the 10th Judicial Circuit
bench, and her husband, Blaine.
Gravitt, a former prosecutor, is running for the Group 10 judgeship against
Keith Merritt and Lee Cohen. The election is Aug. 28.
She said in an email that all maintenance dues have been paid in full and
directed any remaining questions to her lawyer’s response to the allegations in
the lawsuit.
In a written response to the complaint, Ben Hardin, the lawyer for the Gravitts,
wrote that the couple paid all their fees.
“Therefore, no past due assessments, interest, and/or costs and expenses of
collection, including attorney fees, are owed,” Hardin wrote. “Further, Gravitts’
current statement of account for 2018 reflects no past due amount owed.”
In the response, Hardin, of Lakeland, details the dates when the Gravitts paid.
Hardin did not return a phone message. His administrative assistant said he told
her that he would discuss the circumstances of the case after the trial.
The lawsuit, which was filed Dec. 7, 2017, states that assessments made on the
South Lakeland property since Jan. 1, 2015 went unpaid.
On March 16, 2016, the homeowner’s association sent the Gravitts by certified
mail an order to pay past due assessments combined with attorney fees and costs
within 45 days.
In June 2016 a lien claim was filed against the property.
“In the event of such sale, the Clerk of this Court shall after the payment of
costs, charges, and expenses of sale, credit and pay to Association the
remainder of the sums received under said sale against the unpaid balance due
Association,” wrote Mark Lippman, a lawyer for Clubhouse Heritage Property
Owners.
In a certified letter sent March 23, 2017, Lippman wrote that the Gravitts owed
the Association $2,662, which included attorney fees and costs incurred by
Clubhouse as a result of the non-payment. He wrote in the letter that Clubhouse
Heritage Owners’ Association instructed him to file a lien foreclosure against
their property.
Lippman, of Orlando, acknowledged that the couple eventually paid the money that
was due and the late fees. But he said they never paid the attorney fees of
about $1,500 to $2,000.
The two sides talked about settling the case, but the Gravitts wanted Clubhouse
Heritage to pay $9,000 in attorney fees they’ve racked up with Hardin.
Lippman declined to agree to that request.
And he reiterated on Friday that the couple never paid their fees on time
regardless of whether they win or lose.
“They are trying to make a point that they are perfect,” Lippman said, adding
that he will have eventually accumulated about $6,000 to $7,000 himself in
attorney fees.
If Clubhouse wins, Lippman said the Gravitts will be required to pay his fees.
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