The Tampa Tribune from Tampa, Florida • 26

TUESDAY 2.16.2010 THE TAMPA TRIBUNE TBO.COM Lenders must verify ownership of loan, Florida Supreme Court rules. jump through," said Anthony DiMarco, executive vice president for public Affairs for the Florida Bankers Association, which opposed that provision. Not all lenders are required to obey the rules. The rules apply to the 83 loan servicers participating in the Obama administration's Home Affordable Modification Program. Those include Bank of America and JPMorgan Chase.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report Reporter Shannon Behn-ken can be reached at (813) 259-7804. that investigation. This comes after a court order in late December that requires lenders to offer owners of primary residences a chance to negotiate with a third-party mediator before moving forward with foreclosure. Florida has the nation's fourth-highest foreclosure rate, and the court estimates about 456,000 foreclosure cases are clogging the state's court system. The new rules are an effort to help the courts better manage foreclosure cases and make sure lenders have tried to modify loans before taking back homes.

The rules and corresponding legal forms were proposed by a pair of Florida Bar panels. "They found that many cases were being filed by plaintiffs that didn't own the mortgages anymore," said Miami lawyer Mark Romance, who is chairman of the Civil Procedures Rules Committee. Lenders sometimes have a difficult time coming up with the original note to prove they have the authority to foreclose. That's because many loans were bundled and sold as securities. Lenders have said the rules are cumbersome and may cause more delays.

"It's just going to be another hoop to By SHANNON BEHNKEN sbehnkentampatrib.com TAMB The Florida Supreme Court continues to make it more difficult for lenders to foreclose in the Sunshine State. The court says lenders now are required to verify they own loans before they file a foreclosure lawsuit. And, according to the court order, lenders no longer can charge the homeowner for Toyota may lengthen its auto warranties Company hopes to restore customer loyalty after safety-related recalls. By TOM KRISHER The Associated Press ORLANDO Toyota Motor Corp. may offer incentives or increase the length of its warranties as it tries to recover from an embarrassing string of safety-related recalls.

Group Vice President Bob Carter said the company has not decided exacdy what it will do after it gets past the recalls, which include more than 8 million vehicles worldwide, for sticky gas pedals, floor mats that can snag the accelerator and a software glitch in the brakes of its Prius gas-electric hybrid. Carter told reporters at the National Automobile Dealers Association Convention in Orlando that it is focused on repairing customers' cars and restoring their faith in the brand, which for years has had a reputation for reliability. Dealers, he said, are repairing about 50,000 cars every day. He also said the company only has 13 reports of sticking pedals in the United States and Canada' out of the 2.3 million cars and trucks involved in the pedal recall. Carter said that 88,000 of the 112,000 recalled cars on dealer lots have been repaired." J.

I 1 1 Ai T. iM)'. I 1 tiJi 1 11 i. -iW- Associated Press photos by SETH PERLMAN Service technician Mike Blomberg inspects a gas pedal assembly removed from a Toyota at a Springfield, dealership. The company is sending dealers shims to be inserted into the accelerator mechanism to eliminate the friction that may cause problems.

A software glitch In the brakes has plagued Toyota's Prius gas-electric hybrid. Troubled firm picks new chairman BIZ BITS Dean to lead Busch Gardens Jim Dean was picked as'president of Busch Gardens and Adventure Island, the theme parks' parent company announced on Monday. Most recendy, Robert Paulsen replaces John Zumwalt III at The PBSJ Corp. "Sweeping, impetuous, unplanned change is not the answer." A PBSJ Corp. message to investors Interstate 4-Selmon Crosstown Expressway project, which will connect the two highways near Ybor City.

The company has been under scrutiny for several years. Most recendy, it revealed in December regulatory filings that it is investigating a possible violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act by its international subsidiary, PBSJ International Paulsen -J Dean was in charge of merchandise and food operations for SeaWorld Parks Entertainment's 10 parks. Dean also spent time leading finance departments at Anheuser-Busch Dean By MICHAEL SASSO msassotampatrib.com TAMPA The PBSJ a Tampa-based engineering firm that has faced significant legal troubles in recent years, has named a new chairman. Robert Paulsen, 57, is replacing Chairman John Zumwalt III. Paulsen also will assume the role of chief executive officer from Zumwalt until a new chief executive can be found, the company announced.

Paulsen has been with the firm since 1986 and previously was president and vice chairman. Zumwalt cited personal reasons for his resignation, which will be effective March 1. Among other large engineering projects, the company has helped design the Zumwalt demanding change at the firm. Before the company's annual shareholder meeting last week, the firm urged shareholders to be patient with its succession plan. The firm is owned by its 3,800 employees.

"Sweeping, impetuous, unplanned change is not the answer," the company wrote to investors. "But we want you to know that we have heard you and we are listening. We appreciate your commitment and solicit your continued support." Reporter Michael Sasso can be reached at (813) 259-7865. Inc. The corporation didn't give details, but the act generally involves bribery.

The company also was forced to repay millions of dollars to Florida and the federal government after overbilling government agencies. Shareholders appear to have been divisions and at Busch Gardens. He fills the position left vacant by Don-nie Mills, who was promoted to chief operations officer for Busch Gardens and Sesame Place. Tampa airport traffic dips Passenger traffic at Tampa International Airport declined less than 1 percent in January compared with a year ago but could begin to increase by March, airport director Louis Miller said in a monthly traffic memo to airline officials. The tally of 2.7 million departing passengers for the DILBERT By Scott Adams I'LL TAKE THE JOB.

BUT CALL NE MRS. FRY. I HAVE ANI55UE WITH GO TO MANAGE- HELEN rAENT. FRY. HELEN, WE'RE LOOKING FOR A NEW ONBUDSrAAN.

YOUR EXPERIENCE IN THE AFTERLIFE rAAKES YOU AN IDEAL CANDIDATE. Mi first four months of the fiscal year was 2 percent less than for the same year-ago period, prompting a note of optimism on the economy from Miller. Miller "Hopefully, we are starting to see a slowdown in the declining trend and we might even see some growth starting in March," Miller said. A staff report U.S. financial markets were closed Monday in observance of Presidents Day..