Michael E. Dujovne - Melbourne, FL

Overview

Michael E. Dujovne was born in Argentina and has been a resident of Brevard County, Florida, since 1974. He graduated with honors from Melbourne High School in 1984, graduated cum laude from the University of Miami in 1988, and received his juris doctor degree from the Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C., in 1991. Mr. Dujovne attended one year at the University of Kent, in Canterbury, England, through his university's study abroad program, and traveled extensively throughout Europe.

Mr. Dujovne practices primarily in the areas of real estate, commercial transactions, and litigation. From September of 2000 through September of 2002, he was general counsel and vice president of Summit Brokerage Services, Inc., a securities broker-dealer and member of the National Association of Securities Dealers. While at Summit, he was responsible for compliance with regulations governing the securities and insurance industries, as well as licensing of registered representatives, and advising management on day to day decisions. From 1995 through 2000, Mr. Dujovne maintained his private law practice in Melbourne, in which he concentrated on real estate, commercial transactions and litigation, with an emphasis on collections, foreclosures and evictions. From 1991 through 1994, Mr. Dujovne was a litigation attorney with Reinman, Harrell, Graham, Mitchell & Wattwood, P.A., which at the time was the largest law firm in Brevard County.

Real Estate Law:

As a Board Certified Real Estate Law specialist, the majority of Mr. Dujovne's legal work involves real estate in some fashion. He has handled all types of issues for clients, including:

The nationwide mortgage crisis and the end of the Space Shuttle program hit Brevard County particularly hard. With property values plummeting so that they were worth less than the mortgages that encumbered them, this caused severe problems for lenders and borrowers. Lenders were no longer fully secured. Banks were reducing or canceling equity lines of credit and were not renewing short term loans, calling loans due where the borrowers had never missed a payment. Borrowers were facing huge deficiencies even if they could sell their properties. The number of foreclosure cases skyrocketed and the laws and rules regarding foreclosures changed dramatically. Mr. Dujovne understood the need to effectively represent lenders and borrowers in foreclosure cases in this changing environment. For our private lender clients, through use of special statutory procedures, he has successfully completed some foreclosure cases in as little as three months as opposed to the eighteen months or more that most foreclosures take. For our borrower clients, he has helped prevent foreclosure judgments from being entered in most situations, has successfully negotiated waivers or reductions of deficiency for most of his clients, and has negotiated alternatives to foreclosure that are acceptable to both the lender and the borrower. He has helped get large deficiencies reduced by tens of thousands to even millions of dollars, keeping many of our clients from having to declare bankruptcy. He has also skillfully navigated the rocky shoals of litigation to complete real estate transactions, the proceeds of which have settled cases and prevented businesses from shutting their doors.

Admissions, Organizations, Public Speaking and Writing Activities:

Member of the Florida Bar Association (including the Association's Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section) and the Brevard County Bar Association. Admitted to practice in all courts of the State of Florida, as well as the Federal District Courts for the Middle and Southern Districts of Florida. Board Certified in Real Estate Law by the Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education in 2007 (one of only a few Board Certified Real Estate attorneys in Brevard County). Completed the National Institute for Trial Advocacy trial skills program. President of the Brevard Real Estate Council. Author of the weekly "Opportunity Knocks" column in the Hometown News, dealing with foreclosures and tax deed issues. Appeared on The Cerny Success Show on WMEL-AM as a featured guest to discuss legal topics of interest to listeners. Speaks frequently on legal matters to real estate agents at local Area Associations of Realtors, and at their brokers' offices. Affiliate member of Attorney's Title Insurance Fund and Old Republic National Title Insurance Company. Active in the Melbourne Regional Chamber of Commerce and referral groups. Member of the Brevard County Volunteer Leadership Council of the American Cancer Society, and its Cattle Baron's Ball committee. Teaches about the Constitution and citizenship to local high schools and Boy Scout Troops.

Prior Positions Held:

Barrister and Mentor in the Vassar B. Carlton American Inn of Court, a fraternal organization of judges and lawyers that promotes professionalism, ethics and continuing legal education. Received the Inn's "Best Mentor" award. Director of the Brevard County Young Lawyers' Division. Licensed real estate agent, and member of the Melbourne Area Association of Realtors Lawyers Relations Committee.

Personal:

Mr. Dujovne lives in Melbourne with his wife and two children. He was born in Argentina and is fluent in Spanish. He has lived most of his life and has spent his entire legal career in Brevard County. He is an avid football and soccer fan. He participates with his son in Boy Scout activities. He enjoys travelling and outdoor activities such as hiking, biking and kayaking.