David J. Stern, PA; Sauternes V LLC; Tarpon IV LLC; Golf Group Holdings Forcing a tax deed sale on property for delinquent taxes. Plantation, Florida

My parents property is being sold for delinquent taxes on 12/12/08(next week). The taxes have gone unpaid for three years, and there are three entities who have paid them for each year. The "tax certifictes" must be held for two years BEFORE the holder can ask for a "tax deed", which means "I now want my money back, so sell the property."

I was told I couldn't pay the monies due the first "certificate holder", the only party LEGALLY able to redeem their certificate(issued 5/31/06). The reason is that the owner of the first certificate agrees to pay any other certificate holders prior to the "tax deed sale", so that when the sale takes place they are the ONLY holder of ALL THE CERTIFICATES, and since they have already paid all others off they are already out of all the money. In theory, understandable.

Here's where it gets sticky! Sauternes V LLC, Tarpon IV LLC and Golf Group Holdings is ALL THE SAME ENTITY! They don't have to PAY THEMSELVES! They have bought the certificates under LLC's licensed in different cities/states under different names so they APPEAR on paper to be three separate and different entities, thereby making someone like myself have to pay it all at once or risk losing their property (or home if there's a house on it) AND collecting on certificates they are not even legally able to redeem, should someone want to pay the back taxes.

Also, the property value listed this year in the Lee Co. Clerks Office is $17,000 and the value listed on the "ownership and encumbrance report" attached to the "tax deed " request, compiled and supplied by All State Florida Title LLC, is $50,000., search period ending 7/7/2008, dated 7/23/08. Am I the only one who finds all of this disturbing?

Anyway, any help or suggestions are welcome. My time has almost expired...

Dames
Sacramento, California
U.S.A.