Laserfiche WebLink
CLAIMS OF WILLIAM TAYLOR FOR UNCLAIMED TAX FUNDS <br />The Board reviewed memo from County Attorney Charles Vitunac <br />dated February 26, 1992: <br />TO: BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS <br />FROM: Charles P. Vitunac, County Attorney <br />DATE: February 26, 1992 <br />RE: CLAIM OF WILLIAM TAYLOR FOR UNCLAIMED TAX FUNDS <br />The County was contacted by someone who purported to be an heir <br />locator and submitted a claim for one William Taylor for unclaimed tax <br />funds in the amount of $53,401.20. A check for this amount was sent to <br />the locator service, as requested. Unfortunately, several months later, <br />another claim, this time by a person who appears to be the real William <br />Taylor, was made for the same unclaimed tax funds, and upon being <br />contacted by the County this Mr. Taylor expressed no knowledge <br />whatsoever of the locator service. Lea Keller, CLA, then notified <br />Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) for possible criminal <br />charges against the heir locator, and the matter is still under <br />investigation. <br />In the meantime, the real William Taylor wants to be paid and does not <br />feel that the County's paying an improper claimant has anything to do <br />with his claim. Our insurance department, pursuant to the attached <br />memorandums, believes that the County was not negligent and should <br />not pay the claim of Mr. Taylor. However, the fact remains that the <br />County paid the wrong party and that the real William Taylor is <br />completely blameless in the matter. In a true insurance situation this <br />would be a valid claim against the insurance company under loss by <br />fraud type provision. Since Indian River County is self-insured, all <br />loss payments come from the County funds. <br />This matter is brought to the Board for recommendation from the Board <br />on whether to pay the legitimate claim of William Taylor and hope for <br />restitution from the false locator service after criminal action by the <br />FDLE. <br />Commissioner,Bird asked how someone is able to find out that <br />money is due to another person and go through the appropriate <br />procedure to collect the funds. <br />Attorney Vitunac explained the availability of information <br />through the Clerk's office in every county of money that is due to <br />people who may have left town or died. A locator will obtain that <br />information, find them, send them a proper notary document and <br />charge a fee for recovering the money. In this particular case the <br />locator is a criminal claiming money for people but forging <br />71 <br />i 1(,-, f) <br />8 <br />BOOK PAGE luo <br />