Photo of Shannon Puopolo

Shannon concentrates her law practice in the business litigation arena, with a focus on real estate disputes, creditor’s rights in bankruptcy, and appellate law. She represents a diverse clientele, guiding them through legal challenges such as bankruptcy and foreclosure proceedings, alternative finance transactions, and usury defense. Additionally, she handles matters related to title insurance claims, lien and tax deed sales, partnership disputes, trust litigation, association law, and residential and commercial eviction proceedings. Shannon is also a Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Mediator and is featured on the approved mediator list of the United States District Court Middle District of Florida.

Shannon’s exceptional career has garnered numerous accolades, including being recognized in Gulfshore Business Magazine’s 40 Under 40 (2021) and Business Observer’s “40 Under 40” (2020). She has consistently earned the title of a “Rising Star” in business litigation by Florida Super Lawyers® magazine from 2012 to 2023. Naples Illustrated magazine has consistently acknowledged her as a “Top Lawyer” in business litigation since 2018.

Shannon earned her law degree from the Miami School of Law, graduating cum laude, and her undergraduate degree from Washington University in St. Louis. She may be reached via email at shannon.puopolo@henlaw.com.

On April 2, 2020, Governor DeSantis signed Executive Order 20-94, which placed a moratorium on residential eviction actions related to the non-payment of rent. The purpose of the moratorium was to provide targeted, temporary relief to Floridians in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, after granting several extensions, Governor DeSantis permitted Florida’s moratorium to expire at midnight on September 30, 2020.

While the expiration on Florida’s moratorium may come as a relief to landlords and a further concern to tenants, there remains a federal moratorium imposed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) that continues to impact Florida rental properties.

Who’s covered under the CDC Moratorium?

Continue Reading How the CDC’s Moratorium Could Impact Florida Landlords’ Right to Evict Despite the Expiration of the Florida Moratorium

On April 2, 2020, Governor DeSantis signed Executive Order 20-94, which placed a moratorium on mortgage foreclosure actions, as well as residential eviction actions related to the non-payment of rent. The purpose of the moratorium was to provide targeted, temporary relief to Floridians in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since Executive Order 20-94 was enacted, three additional orders were signed by Governor DeSantis in order to extend the stay.

Most recently, on July 29, 2020, Governor DeSantis signed Executive Order 20-180, which extended the foreclosure and eviction moratorium through September 1, 2020. However, the new order made substantial changes to limit the types of cases that are covered by the moratorium.

Changes to the stay on mortgage foreclosures

Previously, all mortgage foreclosure cases were suspended, regardless of the reason the foreclosure action was filed. In contrast, under the new order, the foreclosure stay only extends to “single-family mortgagors adversely affected by the COVID-19 emergency”, and only for cases where the default is directly tied to non-payment.Continue Reading Important Update Regarding Florida’s Moratorium on Evictions and Foreclosures

imac-965325_1280As 2016 closes, we reached out to our team and asked them to share some of the most notable issues in real estate and land use & environmental law:

Residential Closing Best Practices Requirements

2016 saw the CFPB regulations and Best Practices requirements move into high gear with respect to financed residential closings. Lenders, attorneys,

iStock_000015122897XSmall.jpgAssociation boards frequently ask what recourse they have against owners who fall behind on paying assessments, or violate other provisions of an association’s governing documents. While most associations’ governing documents provide for the right to fine owners and place a lien on their property, not all boards are aware that they may also suspend owners’ rights to use common elements or facilities.

What Rights Can Be Suspended?

Continue Reading Can an Association Suspend an Owner’s Right to Use Common Facilities?

financial flickr courtesy of www.SeniorLiving.orgThis question comes up a lot from our association clients. The short answer to the question is “yes.”

When are they due?

Under Florida law, community associations are required to provide owners with an end-of-year financial report. Specifically, within 90 days after the end of the fiscal year, or annually, as provided for in the bylaws, the association shall prepare and complete a financial report for the preceding fiscal year. The financial report must be mailed or hand delivered to the address last provided to the association, upon written request from an owner.

Are formal audits required?

Continue Reading Are Community Associations Required to Provide Financial Reports to Owners?

In addition to providing legal services, Henderson Franklin attorneys are involved in numerous community organizations throughout Southwest Florida. Over the next few weeks, we will be letting our blog readers get to know the members of our Condominium and Homeowners’ Association group a little better by sharing some of the exciting organizations and events we have been involved in.

PuopoloToday, meet Shannon Puopolo. Not only does Shannon handle association and real estate litigation matters, including collections and foreclosures, and other commercial litigation matters, she serves on boards of several local organizations, including the Guardian Ad Litem Foundation. Shannon gives the highlights of the Foundation’s signature event of the year for us in her latest blog:

Many Americans enjoy the annual tradition of watching the Kentucky Derby. Some even partake in dressing the part, by putting on their finest hats, bowties, and pastel-colored clothing. In Southwest Florida, the community combines this time-honored tradition with a charitable cause – namely, raising money for at-risk youth in our legal system.

On Saturday, May 7th, the Guardian ad Litem Foundation (“GALF”) held its annual Viva La Derby Party, which raises money to support, recruit, and train volunteers who advocate for abused, neglected and abandoned children in the child welfare and court system.Continue Reading Meet Henderson Franklin’s Condo and HOA Team Members: Shannon Puopolo

11702998186_540598856a_k This question comes up a lot from our association clients, who are often unsure about how to proceed, for fear of violating the automatic stay. Many associations know they should refrain from seeking collection efforts against homeowners for outstanding pre-petition assessments, but what about post-petition assessments? Further, can the association attempt to recoup pre-petition assessments without violating the automatic stay?

Case Study – Montalvo

A recent decision in In re Federico Augusto Montalvo, 546 B.R. 880 (M.D. Fla. 2016) addressed these issues. The owner of two condominium units filed Chapter 13 bankruptcy and specified in his Chapter 13 Plan that he was surrendering his interest in the units, although he held title to units during the pendency of the bankruptcy case.Continue Reading Can an Association Collect Assessments Once a Homeowner Files Chapter 13 Bankruptcy?

iStock_000015122897XSmall.jpgOn May 20, 2009, President Obama signed into law the Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act of 2009 (the “Act”). The Act was created during the height of the foreclosure crisis as a temporary measure to protect tenants who entered into a lease without realizing a property was in foreclosure. The Act provided that lenders and third-party purchasers who took title to a property at a foreclosure sale must provide a tenant with a minimum of 90 days’ notice, prior to seeking a writ of possession and evicting the tenant.

Sunset Provision of the Act

The Act was scheduled to expire on December 31, 2012, but the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act extended the sunset provision to December 31, 2014. There was much speculation within the legal community regarding whether the Act would be extended again. On November 21, 2013, the Senate introduced Bill 1761, titled “Permanently Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act of 2013,” which sought to indefinitely extend the protections afforded under the original Act, as well as provide tenants with a private right of action against lenders and third-party purchasers who failed to comply with the Act. However, Senate Bill 1761 never progressed forward, and the Act expired on December 31, 2014.

What Happens After the Sunset?Continue Reading What to Expect Following the Sunset of the Protecting Tenants at Foreclose Act