[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of
Pine 6-7-2004 by Ord. No. 318[1]. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed former Ch. 3, Attorney
Fees, adopted 3-20-2000 by Ord. No. 281.
This chapter 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 of 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)
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.
(4)
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 sheriffs documents, preparation
and service of notices of sheriffs sale, staying the writ of execution, and
attendance at one sheriffs 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.
(5)
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.
(6)
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.
(7)
Installment payment agreement. The sum of $150 shall
constitute reasonable attorney fees for the preparation of each written installment
payment agreement.
(8)
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 and 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, 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 § 3-3A 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.
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 prothonotary, 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.
The following schedule of charges, expenses and fees (hereinafter collectively referred to as "servicing fees") is hereby approved and adopted by the municipality pursuant to §§ 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 claims promptly. The servicing fees established, assessed and collected hereunder shall be in addition to the record costs, § 3-3 attorney fees and § 3-2, expenses associated with legal proceedings initiated by or on behalf of the municipality to collect its claims.
B.
Servicing of a claim or claims may result in voluntary payment without the initiation of enforcement proceedings. It is the intent of this § 3-5 to pass the cost of servicing on to the delinquent person or property as part of each claim. The recovery of servicing fees established herein shall not be contingent upon the initiation of enforcement proceedings. However, such servicing fees are due even where enforcement proceedings are initiated. The purpose of this section is to pass the cost and expense associated with delinquent collection on to the delinquent person or property and to make the municipality whole on all claims collected.
C.
Schedule. The following schedule of fees shall constitute
reasonable and appropriate servicing fees for each indicated service. The
servicing fees shall be added to and become part of the municipality's claims,
together with the face, penalties, interest, costs and attorney fees and shall
be payable in full before the discharge or satisfaction of any claim. The
schedule of fees is separate and distinct from any amounts imposed by the
sheriff, prothonotary, court or any other public office in connection with
the collection of the municipality's claims.
(1)
Assignments: $5 per claim.
(2)
Filing tax liens: $5 per item.
(3)
Satisfactions: $5 per claim.
(4)
Tax claim revivals (i.e., S&A): $10 per claim.
(5)
Act 1/Act 20 compliance: $35 per case.
(6)
Filing municipal claim and filing municipal claim revivals:
$15 per claim.
(7)
Municipal claim/short title examination: $35 per claim.
(8)
Sheriff sale claim certificates: $50 per case.
(9)
Claim certifications: $10 per year.
(10)
Servicing, including staffing, computers, office space,
telephones, equipment, and materials:
(a)
For all delinquent and liened taxes, tax liens, municipal
claims (filed or unfiled) and municipal liens: 10% of gross collections.
(11)
Postage and court costs: Actual cost.
A.
This chapter shall take effect on the date of enactment
set forth below[1] and with respect to attorney fees pursuant to §§ 3-3 and 3-4 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.
[1]
Editor's Note: The "date of enactment set forth below" is 6-7-2004,
the adoption date of Ord. No. 318.
B.
In no event shall the municipality's right to charge and collect reasonable attorney fees pursuant to § 3-3 of this chapter 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 chapter 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 chapter, pursuant to a 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 chapter shall
be incurred, charged and collected in accordance with the schedules and procedures
set forth in this chapter.
The municipality assigns the provisions of this chapter 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 chapter in actions commenced
under the Act and for servicing any claims retained by the municipality.
