Magistrate leaves liens in place on 8139 Random Road after heir requests relief

Magistrate Tiffany Sarto on Sept. 18 declined a request from Benjamin Desaglio, who identified himself as an heir/estate representative, to reduce or dismiss liens and accrued fines recorded against property at 8139 Random Road.

Desaglio told the magistrate he learned through a title company that liens and daily fines stemming from code-enforcement orders entered in 2019 had accumulated to a substantial amount and said the matter was not raised during probate of his grandmother's estate. He asked that the court dismiss arrearages and interest and release liens recorded against a second parcel (98 West Gulf Boulevard) that the county had associated with the enforcement action.

Magistrate Sarto reviewed the orders in the record from March 7, 2019 and Oct. 3, 2019 and determined they remain in effect. She said the record showed someone appeared on behalf of the property at the earlier hearings and that daily fines accrued following the orders; the magistrate declined to change the prior orders or reduce the fines. The magistrate noted that liens recorded under the county's authority may remain and that interest accrues daily per the recorded orders.

The magistrate observed that any pending related litigation is separate from the administrative enforcement orders before her and said she was not inclined to modify orders that were entered in 2019. The hearing record indicates the county recorded liens against the subject properties in 2019 and 2021; the magistrate directed no change to the recorded orders at this time.

Desaglio said he did not receive certified notice of the proceedings during probate and that he inherited the properties and associated enforcement obligations. He said the estate had limited funds and that he had spent personal funds addressing some issues. The magistrate declined to reduce or release the fines or liens in the hearing record.