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LAKELAND (March 15, 2012) – The final lecture in Florida Southern College’s Legally Speaking series for 2011-2012 will feature two attorneys speaking on the topic of non-judicial foreclosures.

Kurt Gruber and David Oigarden of the Orlando office of the law firm Baker Hostetler will give the lecture, “Non-Judicial Foreclosures in Florida,” following a noon luncheon on March 23 in the Thrift Alumni Room at FSC. The lunch and lecture are $20 per person, and reservations are required by March 22.

Prof. Cindy Hardin of FSC’s Barney Barnett School of Business and Free Enterprise, who coordinates the Legally Speaking series, noted that foreclosures take an average of 638 days in Florida, longer than any state other than New York. The Florida Legislature has considered bills allowing for non-judicial foreclosures in the residential market.

“Non-judicial foreclosures could speed up the process. However, many opponents believe that taking the courts out of the foreclosure process will result in homeowners not being fairly treated and having to bear huge costs to contest the foreclosure. It is an issue that is fiercely debated, and the general public needs to be educated on the subject,” Hardin said.

Kurt Gruber practices in the real estate area of law with a special concentration in the resort and leisure industry. Prior to joining Baker Hostetler, he was Senior Vice President of Planning and Development and General Counsel for Island One, Inc., and Island One Resorts Management Corporation. He worked with the legislature to draft and obtain approval of the Florida statute that allows non-judicial foreclosures of timeshare units in Florida.

David Oigarden practices in the real estate area with an emphasis on the condominium, resort and hospitality industries. He has a broad range of experience related to consumer finance and privacy laws, including the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act and the Truth in Lending Act.

“Mr. Gruber and Mr. Oigarden are experts on this issue. They are very familiar with the pros and cons of non-judicial foreclosure, the particular protections required, and the roadblocks to getting such a bill approved for single-family homes. I expect their lecture will be enlightening and thought-provoking, and will lend itself to lively questions and discussions with the audience,” Hardin said.

More about Legally Speaking… The Legally Speaking lecture series is sponsored by the Phi Alpha Delta Pre-Law Fraternity at FSC and is intended to bring together members of the legal community, professionals, students and the public for meaningful discussions about timely legal issues facing society. For more information on the Legally Speaking series or to RSVP for the lecture with Kurt Gruber and David Oigarden, contact (863) 680-4280 or lberardicurti@flsouthern.edu .

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