Neighborhoodtimes: County admits fault in auction of condo

Pinellas county officials have conceded they were acting unlawfully when they neglected to contact more than 900 time-share owners of a Pass-a-Grille condominium before they auctioned it off in a tax deed sale in November, according to court documents.

The Camelot Condominium Owners Association filed a lawsuit against the county claiming the sale was invalid because the clerk of the circuit court failed to notify individual time-share owners before they auctioned the property to Luke Investments, a West Palm Beach development firm, for $2-million on Nov. 29.

The county sent several notices to the condo board but did not receive a response.

County officials admitted the sale was invalid and that Luke Investments had no claim to the property in an answer filed by county attorney Sarah Richardson on Thursday. The answer simply lists many of the claims made in the Camelot lawsuit and states, "the defendants admit the allegations."

The lawsuit lists Luke Investments, Pinellas County Tax Collector Diane Nelson, Clerk of Circuit Court Ken Burke and Pinellas County as defendants and asks that Luke Investments be ordered to vacate the land and immediately return it to the time-share owners.

The property still belongs to Luke Investments until a judge rules otherwise, Richardson said. A court date has not been set.

Luke Investments filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit two weeks ago, alleging the claims were without merit. A spokesman for the firm declined to comment Friday.

In most cases, condominium associations are considered the owners of a time-share property. But unlike many time-share properties, Camelot's owners hold individual property deeds for the units they purchased, so the lawsuit alleges they are the legal owners of the property, not the association.

Lee Rightmyer, an attorney representing Camelot, called the county's response important. "We will be going forward in the judicial proceedings with the goal of having the court adopt the position that is now taken by both the county and the association," he said.

Camelot was auctioned off after the condo association had failed to pay its taxes for three years, a total that amounts to about $180,000.

It is still unclear why the taxes were not paid. John Predmore, the condo association president, has not returned several calls placed by the Times and will not return calls placed by time-share residents, according to the unit owners.

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by A.K.	05/22/07 03:37 PM
Just found out about this when we went and found police tape all around the place. Had plane reservations (non-refundable) made. This was to be a good vacation, down the tubes. Help! Are there any updates?

by Kaylee	05/21/07 01:13 PM
We own week 42 and look forward to staying at Camelot. I phoned last week to find our arrival date only to reach a non-working number. We paid fees every year. Why were we not contacted? Who should have been responsible for contacting us?

by Susan	04/23/07 11:48 AM
My husband and I just returned from Camelot by the Sea or, should have. We paid in full March 2007 almost $2000 for our stay April 7 - 21. Does anyone know how we can get our uncashed money order back. Our hearts go out to all of you.

by Linda	04/11/07 09:32 PM
I am a timeshare owner at camelot and just today discovered the horrible news of its sale behind the backs of its owners. I paid my taxes faithfully every year and was never notified of the impending auction. How does a thing like this happen?

by Pam	04/05/07 04:07 PM
I am absolutely shocked as I only today tried to call Camelot--I bought in 1982, called my son with the sad news we spent many happy years there

by Nick	03/28/07 01:31 PM
To Al,all the best in your efforts. I'm mad too. But, seriously, suing the association is really suing all of the rest of us who lost our units too. You might sue the board but unless they have good D&O insurance or something how will you collect?

by Al	03/26/07 12:13 PM
We payed our taxes..the association didn't pass them on?? so where are they?? sounds a little shady??? someone has the $180,000.00 so who is it? why aren't they in jail???(my attorney will find out!!!)

by Al	03/26/07 12:11 PM
I am an owner at Camelot for over 20 years,I am looking for info to help my attorney,I will sue the association, the county, whoever it takes to get my timeshare back (they cashed my check for taxes 3 weeks after they supposedly closed???)..

by rudy	03/14/07 07:36 PM
i was at camelot by the sea 2 days ago facing a large security guard who was going to call the police and have me removed from the property for trespassing eventho i am as owner. i was trying to find out what was going on could not get any info.

by james	03/14/07 02:22 PM
It seems as if Mr. predmore has some explaining to do even if he is represented by an attorney if he is innocent he should clear the air. We have heard that the timeshare may be given back to the owners I hope he is no longer on the board.

by nancy	03/13/07 10:37 AM
I truly hope this matter gets settled and the share owners get their property back soon. This is a horrible unlawful act what has happend!!

by Nick	03/07/07 09:25 PM
We wouldn't even have heard of this now if we hadn't tried to call the Office to check on our dates and got no answer. There must be lots of owners who still don't know about it. Others seem to have known this was going on months ago.

by Joan	03/02/07 03:43 PM
I'm a timeshare owner at Camelot by the Sea,and of this date, have not been contacted, nor can I reach Mr. Predmore. The last correspondence I had with Camelot by the Sea was when I forwarded my taxes via check on December 11, 2006. I am shocked!

by doug	02/15/07 12:09 AM
We are two week title owners of the property. Received no notice from the Association or Board. The taxes were paid each year and were assured by the Office mgmt that these are collected and submitted to the County. Plse continue updates

by nancy	01/23/07 10:12 PM
I drove by there and signs says posted no trespassers. However someone was in the office tonight over the computer. ????

by Kelly	01/15/07 10:20 AM
What really bothers me is the fact that it is quite clear Mr. Predmore and the association are represented by an attorney. Why does the Times repeatedly state that Mr. Predmore has not returned phone calls when it is apparent that he can't comment?

by Joe	01/05/07 02:16 PM
I am pleased to see that Pinellas County has admitted they acted illegally. I cannot see how a judge can rule accordingly and give the property back to us. I have a four deeds to four weeks and I was never notified.

by Pat	01/04/07 05:16 PM
I truly hope this matter gets settled in favor of the time share holders. It would be refreshing to see something resolved in favor of the everyday person. Thank you, Ms. Silva for staying on top of this matter.

by Joe	01/03/07 07:34 AM
it is my opinion that the county list all owners on the property appraisers files and website to stop this from happening again?

by Joe	01/03/07 06:41 AM
No comunications have been made two our Family regarding this matter and we have 2 deeds in this location

by Richard	12/31/06 06:09 PM
Thanks to the Times and especially Christina Silva for the coverage of this improper action. Owners did not even know about it until reading about it in the newspapers. Follow-up reporting by Ms. Silva adid owners in obtaing justice.

by Sheryl	12/31/06 03:55 PM
As a timeshare owner, we have not received any information from the Board informing us of the chain of events that lead to the sale of the property. Who normally wrote the check for the taxes - the Board or the Off Mgr. No one has contacted us.

by Joan	12/31/06 03:05 PM
This is the first ray of sunshine Camelot owners have had in the months since we've been made aware of this debacle. We just want our "share of the beach" back. None of us are wealthy and this is truly "Camelot" for us.

by Sonny	12/31/06 01:44 PM
Cristina Bless you for staying with this cause and keeping us informed

by Barney	12/31/06 12:52 PM
Miss Silva's report on Camelot has begun to dispell the dark clouds hovering over our Camelot,sweeping away our sense of loss and betrayal. Today our cloudy,dreary Illinois day is warmed and brightened by thoughts again of our Camelot by the Sea.

by Ralph A.	12/31/06 11:24 AM
If the officers of the Assoc. collected the timeshare/owners share of the realty taxes, are not these proceeds a trust fund? Has the Association breached it's fiduciary responsabilities, and as such liable both civilly and criminally?