Current through Pa Acts 2024-53, 2024-56 through 2024-92
Section 455.803 - Application for recovery from fund(a) When any aggrieved person obtains a final judgment in any court of competent jurisdiction against any person licensed under this act, upon grounds of fraud, misrepresentation or deceit with reference to any transaction for which a license or registration certificate is required under this act (including with respect to cemetery companies any violation of 9 Pa.C.S. § 308(b) (relating to accounts of qualified trustee)) and which cause of action occurred on or after the effective date of this act, the aggrieved person may, upon termination of all proceedings, including reviews and appeals, file an application in the court in which the judgment was entered for an order directing payment out of the Real Estate Recovery Fund of the amount unpaid upon the judgment.(b) The aggrieved person shall be required to show: (1) That he is not a spouse of the debtor, or the personal representative of said spouse.(2) That he has obtained a final judgment as set out in this section.(3) That all reasonable personal acts, rights of discovery and such other remedies at law and in equity as exist have been exhausted in the collection thereof.(4) That he is making said application no more than one year after the termination of the proceedings, including reviews and appeals in connection with the judgment.(c) The commission shall have the right to answer actions provided for under this section, and subject to court approval, it may compromise a claim based upon the application of the aggrieved party.(d) When there is an order of the court to make payment or a claim is otherwise to be levied against the fund, such amount shall be paid to the claimant in accordance with the limitations contained in this section. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this section, the liability of that portion of the fund allocated for the purpose of this act shall not exceed $20,000 for any one claim and shall not exceed $100,000 per licensee. If the $100,000 liability of the Real Estate Recovery Fund as provided herein is insufficient to pay in full claims adjudicated valid of all aggrieved persons against any one licensee or registrant, such $100,000 shall be distributed among them in such ratio that the respective claims of the aggrieved applicants bear to the aggregate of such claims held valid. If, at any time, the money deposited in the Real Estate Recovery Fund is insufficient to satisfy any duly authorized claim or portion thereof, the commission shall, when sufficient money has been deposited in the fund, satisfy such unpaid claims or portions thereof, in the order that such claims or portions thereof were originally filed, plus accumulated interest at the rate of 6% a year.(e) Upon petition of the commission the court may require all claimants and prospective claimants against one licensee or registrant to be joined in one action, to the end that the respective rights of all such claimants to the Real Estate Recovery Fund may be equitably adjudicated and settled.(f) Should the commission pay from the Real Estate Recovery Fund any amount in settlement of a claim as provided for in this act against a licensee:(1) The license of that person shall automatically suspend upon the effective date of the payment thereof by the commission.(2) No such licensee shall be granted reinstatement until he has repaid in full plus interest at the rate of 10% a year, the amount paid from the Real Estate Recovery Fund.(3) The commission shall have the right to petition the court that entered the judgment against the licensee to enter a judgment under this subsection, and, upon proof of the amount paid by the fund, the court shall enter a judgment against the licensee for that amount in favor of the commission.(g) Should the commission pay from the Real Estate Recovery Fund any amount in settlement of a claim as provided for in this act against a registrant the registrant shall automatically be denied the right to sell cemetery lots upon the effective date of the payment thereof by the commission. No such registrant shall be granted the right to sell cemetery lots until he has repaid in full plus interest at the rate of 10% a year, the amount paid from the Real Estate Recovery Fund. 1980, Feb. 19, P.L. 15, No. 9, § 803, imd. effective. Amended 1982, March 7, P.L. 158, No. 50, § 8, effective in 60 days; 1984, March 29, P.L. 162, No. 32, § 15, effective in 90 days; 2000, June 22, P.L. 371, No. 47, § 2, imd. effective.