[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners of the Township
of Robinson as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where
applicable.]
[Adopted 12-13-2010 by Ord. No. 12-2010[1]]
This article shall be known as the "Tax, Tax Claim, Tax Lien,
Municipal Claim and Municipal Lien Attorney Fees and Servicing Charges,
Expenses and Fees Ordinance."
A.
Title search. In any enforcement proceeding, the actual cost of a
title search in an amount not to exceed $250 shall constitute a reasonable
expense for each title search necessary for the initiation of each
proceeding and compliance with Pa. R.C.P. § 3129. The sum,
not to exceed $50, shall constitute a reasonable expense for each
bringdown or update of the title search in connection with entry of
judgment, issuance of execution, listing for sale or other action.
B.
Actual out-of-pocket expenses in connection with any enforcement
action, such as for postage, non-Sheriff's service of process,
investigation of the whereabouts of interested parties and other necessary
expenses shall constitute reimbursable expenses as part of each claim
recovered.
A.
Flat fee matters. The following schedule of attorney fees is hereby
adopted and approved as reasonable attorney fees pursuant to Act 1
and Act 20 for all matters described, which fees shall be awarded
to the municipality, its agents, counsel or assigns in each action
initiated pursuant to the act for the collection of unpaid claims.
The property owner's obligation to pay the full amount of the
flat fee for each phase of each action shall accrue upon the initiation
of any aspect of each phase. The full amount of each flat fee for
each prior phase of the proceeding shall carry over and be due on
a cumulative basis, together with the flat fee for each subsequent
phase.
(1)
Filing or municipal claim. The sum of $150 shall constitute reasonable
attorney fees for the preparation and filing of a municipal claim
as defined under the Act.
(2)
Preparation and service of writ of scire facias or complaint in assumpsit
as provided in the Act. The sum of $450 shall constitute reasonable
attorney fees for the initiation of each proceeding and shall include
preparation and filing of the praecipe for writ of scire facias or
complaint in civil action, Sheriff's direction for service, notice
pursuant to Pa. R.C.P. § 237.1 and the preparation and filing
of the praecipe to settle and discontinue the proceeding. The above
does not include:
(a)
Federal tax liens, judgments and mortgages. Where there are
federal tax liens, federal judgments, federal mortgages or other record
federal interests, the sum of $200 shall constitute reasonable attorney
fees for all matters necessary to properly notify and serve the United
States with all required additional notice and the presentation of
related motions to court.
(b)
Alternative service of legal pleadings. In the event that a
special order of court is necessary to serve original process or any
other pleading, notice, court order or other document, the following
amounts shall constitute reasonable attorney fees as follows:
(3)
Amicable scire facias or consent judgment. The sum of $400 shall constitute reasonable attorney fees for the preparation, filing, monitoring and conclusion of an amicable scire facias or consent judgment, including negotiation, preparation and filing of the pleading, acceptance of service, installment payment and/or forbearance agreement and satisfaction. See 53 P.S. § 7185. The municipality may, in its sole and absolute discretion, hold the amicable scire facias or consent judgment and file only in the event of a default in the terms and conditions of the amicable scire facias or consent judgment or any related installment or forbearance agreement. If a consent judgment is entered following the filing of writ of scire facias or complaint in assumpsit, then the flat fee for entry of the consent judgment shall be the same as that amount provided for in Subsection A(4), Entry of judgment, below.
(4)
Entry of judgment. The sum of $225 shall constitute reasonable attorney
fees in connection with entry of judgment which shall include preparation
and filing of the praecipe to enter judgment, notices of judgment,
affidavit of nonmilitary status and the praecipe to satisfy judgment.
(5)
Writ of execution; Sheriff's sale of property or execution upon
assumpsit judgment. The sum of $700 shall constitute reasonable attorney
fees for preparation of all documents necessary for each execution
upon any judgment pursuant to the Act. This sum shall include the
preparation and filing of the praecipe for writ of execution, all
Sheriff's documents, preparation and service of notices of Sheriff's
sale, staying the writ of execution and attendance at one Sheriff's
sale.
(a)
Postponements. The sum of $100 shall constitute reasonable attorney
fees for each continuance of Sheriff's sale at the request of
the defendant.
(6)
Sale pursuant to § 31 of the Act, 53 P.S. § 7281.
The sum of $700 shall constitute reasonable attorney fees for the
sale of property pursuant to § 31 of the Act, 53 P.S. § 7281,
including preparation and service of necessary documents, court appearances,
attendance at sale and preparation of proposed schedule of distribution
of the proceeds realized from such sale.
(7)
Sale pursuant to § 31.1 of the Act, 53 P.S. § 7282.
The sum of $500 shall constitute reasonable attorney fees for a sale
of property pursuant to § 31.1 of the Act, 53 P.S. § 7282,
including the preparation of necessary documents, service, court appearances
and the preparation of proposed Sheriff's schedule of distribution.
(8)
Installment payment agreement. The sum of $150 shall constitute reasonable
attorney fees for the preparation of each written installment payment
agreement.
(9)
Motions. The sum of $200 shall constitute reasonable attorney fees
for the preparation, filing and presentation of motions, other than
for alternative service, which shall include, but are not limited
to, motions to reassess damages, motions to amend caption, motions
to continue the Sheriff's sale.
B.
Hourly rate matters. The following schedule of attorney fees is hereby
adopted and approved as reasonable attorney fees pursuant to Act 1
and Act 20,[1] which fees shall be awarded to the municipality, its agents, counsel or assigns as compensation in all contested matters, and in all other matters not specifically referenced in § 176-3A above, undertaken in connection with the collection of Claims, each as recorded and charged in units of 1/10th of an hour for all time devoted to enforcement and collection of the municipality's claims. Counsel, whether duly employed or duly appointed by the municipality, its agents or assigns, shall not deviate from this fee schedule absent a subsequent ordinance amending the same. Hourly rate matters include, but are not limited to, any matters where any defense, objection, motion, petition or appearance is entered in any phase of any proceeding by or on behalf of any defendant or other interested party.
(1)
Senior attorneys (practicing law for 10 years or more): $185 per
hour.
(2)
Junior attorneys (practicing law for less than 10 years): $160 per
hour.
(3)
Paralegals: $100 per hour.
(4)
Law clerks: $65 per hour.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. § 7106.
A.
Required notice. The notice required by the Act, as amended, 53 P.S.
§ 7106, shall be provided in accordance therewith and shall
be incorporated into an appropriate delinquency notice or notices
sent by the municipality, its agent, counsel or assigns.
B.
Fees to be accrued and claims to be filed. Fees shall accrue for
all efforts in collection after the 30th day after the notice, or
after the 10th day of any required second notice under the Act, as
amended, 53 P.S. § 7106, on all accounts referred to counsel
for enforcement. Fees accumulated as a result of enforced collection
shall be certified by duly appointed counsel for the municipality
authorized to pursue collection of claims pursuant to the Act, or
by counsel for the municipality's agents or assigns and, if not
collected in due course with the debt as by voluntary payment, shall
be included in any claims filed on behalf of the municipality or by
its agents or assigns in the course of enforcement, including any
claims originally filed with the Department of Court Records, any
claims filed with the Sheriff or in any other claims filed or statements
provided where attorney fees are due.
C.
The amount of fees determined as set forth above shall be added to
and become part of the claim or claims in each proceeding as provided
by the Act and as provided herein.
A.
Pursuant to §§ 1, 2 and 3 of the Act of May 16, 1923, as amended, 53 P.S. §§ 7101, 7103 and 7106, and specifically in the schedule found in accordance with Act 83 of 2004, the municipality does hereby authorize the recovery of charges, expenses and fees set forth in Subsection D below that are incurred by the municipality or charged to the municipality by collectors retained by the municipality in connection with efforts to collect delinquent claims as a result of any persons' failure to promptly pay delinquent claims.
B.
The following schedule of charges, expenses and fees (hereinafter referred to as "servicing expenses," "out-of-pocket expenses" and "postage expenses") is hereby approved and adopted by the municipality pursuant to Act 83 of 2004 which amends §§ 1, 2 and 3 of the Act of May 16, 1923, as amended, 53 P.S. §§ 7101, 7103 and 7106, which amounts are the direct result of each person's or property's failure to pay delinquent claims promptly. The servicing expenses, out-of-pocket expenses and postage expenses established, assessed and collected hereunder shall be in addition to the record costs, § 176-2 expenses and § 176-3 attorney fees associated with legal proceedings initiated by or on behalf of the municipality to collect its delinquent claims.
C.
Servicing of a delinquent claim or delinquent claims may result in
voluntary payment without the initiation of enforcement proceedings.
It is the intent of this section to pass the cost of servicing on
to the delinquent person or property as part of each delinquent claim.
The recovery of servicing expenses, out-of-pocket expenses and postage
expenses established herein shall not be contingent upon the initiation
of enforcement proceedings. However, such servicing expenses, out-of-pocket
expenses and postage expenses are due even where enforcement proceedings
are initiated. The purpose of this section is to pass the entire cost
and expense associated with delinquent collection on to the delinquent
person or property and to make the municipality whole on all delinquent
claims collected.
D.
Schedule: The following schedule of servicing expenses, out-of-pocket
expenses and postage expenses shall constitute reasonable and appropriate
charges, expenses and fees for each indicated category. The servicing
expenses, out-of-pocket expenses and postage expenses shall be added
to and become part of the municipality's delinquent claims, together
with the face, penalties, interest and costs, if any, and title search
expense, attorney fees and out-of-pocket expenses in connection with
enforcement proceedings, if any, and shall be payable in full before
the discharge or satisfaction of any delinquent claim. The below schedule
of servicing expenses, out-of-pocket expenses and postage expenses
is separate and distinct from any amounts imposed by the Sheriff,
Department of Court Records, Court or any other public office in connection
with the collection of the municipality's delinquent claims.
(1)
Out-of-pocket expenses. The expenses of postage, title searches,
investigators, process servers and other necessary expenses incurred
in servicing shall constitute reasonable out-of-pocket expenses as
part of each delinquent claim recovered.
(2)
Municipal no-lien letter and tax certification. The sum of $25 shall
constitute a reasonable servicing expense for the preparation and
issuance of each municipal no-lien letter relating to the municipality's
delinquent municipal claims. The sum of $10 per year certified shall
constitute a reasonable servicing expense for the preparation and
issuance of each delinquent tax claim certification.
(3)
Postage expense. Out-of-pocket expenses shall include the actual
cost of postage related to the collection of the municipality's
delinquent claims.
(4)
Servicing expense.
(a)
A servicing expense of 10% of gross collections shall constitute
a reasonable servicing expense for all servicing related to the collection
of the municipality's claims. Servicing expenses shall accrue
on the first of the month for the entire month, or part thereof. There
is no per-diem servicing expense. Gross collections for the purpose
of calculating servicing expenses shall include the face, together
with penalty, interest and lien costs, if any, for each delinquent
claim collected. Lien costs shall mean charges imposed by the Department
of Court Records and/or by the municipality's Collector for the
filing, satisfaction, revival, amendment and transfer of delinquent
claims. Gross collections shall not include any record costs, attorney
fees or out-of-pocket expenses related to the collection of the municipality's
delinquent claims.
(b)
In addition, the following schedule of fees shall constitute
a reasonable and appropriate fee for each indicated service:
[1]
Assignments: $5 per claim.
[2]
Preparing/filing tax liens: $5.50 per item.
[3]
Satisfactions (for no consideration passing receipts): $10 per
claim.
[4]
Tax claim revivals (i.e., S&A): $20 per claim.
[6]
Preparing/filing municipal claims and claim revivals (S&A):
$25 per claim.
[7]
S&As (tax or municipal) prepared but not filed: $10 per
S&A.
[8]
Municipal claim/short title examination: $40 per claim.
[9]
Sheriff sale claim certificates: $60 per case.
(c)
Liability for payment of charges, expenses and fees, including servicing expenses, out-of-pocket expenses and postage expenses, shall be for those delinquent claims identified in § 176-6 below, regardless of whether the delinquent claims are filed as claims in the Allegheny County Department of Court Records office.
A.
This article shall take effect on the date of enactment set forth below and with respect to attorney fees pursuant to §§ 176-3 and 176-4 shall apply to all taxes, tax claims, tax liens, municipal claims, municipal liens, writs of scire facias judgments or executions filed on or after December 19, 1990, or as otherwise provided by law.
B.
In no event shall the municipality's right to charge and collect reasonable attorney fees pursuant to § 176-3 of this article be impaired by the fact that any claim may also include an attorney commission of 5% for claims filed prior to December 19, 1990. Any attorney fees assessed and collected under this or any prior ordinances pursuant to Act 1 shall be in addition to any five-percent commission previously included in any claim or judgment thereon.
C.
Attorney fees and expenses incurred in pending enforcement proceedings
prior to the effective date of this article, pursuant to prior ordinances
adopted under Act 1, but not collected, shall remain due and owing
in accordance therewith and shall be incorporated in any future statement,
claim, pleading, judgment or execution. Attorney fees and expenses
in any pending or new action incurred after the effective date of
this article shall be incurred, charged and collected in accordance
with the schedules and procedures set forth in this article.
The municipality assigns the provisions of this article to any
assignee of its claims unless the assignment limits the assignee's
ability to collect such amounts. The municipality and its duly authorized
agents and their counsel shall retain all rights to charge reasonable
attorney fees, charges, expenses and fees in accordance with the provisions
of this article in actions commenced under the Act and for servicing
any claims retained by the municipality.