On September 14, 2021, Tamarah and Emmanuel Louis, individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated, filed a purported class action lawsuit against BVU alleging it violated the Military Lending Act (“MLA”). The complaint alleges that BVU did not make any inquiry before offering financing to the plaintiffs as to whether they were members of the United States Military and allege other claims related to certain disclosures mandated by the MLA. BVU filed a motion to dismiss the complaint, and plaintiffs then filed an amended complaint on December 3, 2021. The District Court granted BVU’s motion to dismiss. An appeal of the District Court’s dismissal by the plaintiffs is pending before the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals. BVU continues to vigorously defend this action on appeal.
On February 8, 2023, Denise Mecke, a former Missouri sales associate, filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri alleging various statutory and tort claims against Bluegreen, BVU and nine current and former associates related to her termination from employment. Her initial demand letter sought $7.0 million in damages. On March 31, 2023, defendants filed a motion to compel arbitration and dismiss the complaint, or, in the alternative, to stay this action. On October 12, 2023, the Court granted Bluegreen’s motion to compel arbitration and dismiss the complaint.
Commencing in 2015, it came to Bluegreen’s attention that its collection efforts with respect to its VOI notes receivable were being impacted by a then emerging, industry-wide trend involving the receipt of “cease and desist” letters from exit firms and their attorneys purporting to represent certain VOI owners. Following receipt of these letters, Bluegreen is unable to contact the owners unless allowed by law. Bluegreen believes these exit firms have encouraged such owners to become delinquent and ultimately default on their obligations and that such actions and its inability to contact the owners have been a material factor in the increase in its annual default rates. Bluegreen’s average annual default rates have increased from 6.9% in 2015 to 10.5% in 2023. Bluegreen also estimates that approximately 9.1% of the total delinquencies on its VOI notes receivable as of September 30, 2023 related to VOI notes receivable are subject to this issue. Bluegreen has in a number of cases pursued, and Bluegreen may in the future pursue, legal action against the VOI owners, and as described below, against the exit firms.
On November 13, 2020, Bluegreen filed a lawsuit against timeshare exit firm, Carlsbad Law Group, LLP, and certain of its associated law firms and affiliates. On December 30, 2020, Bluegreen filed a lawsuit against timeshare exit firm, The Molfetta Law Firm, and certain of its associated law firms, affiliates, and cohorts, including Timeshare Termination (“TTT”). In both of these actions, Bluegreen makes substantially the same claims against the timeshare exit firms and its associated law firms and affiliates as those made in its action against The Montgomery Law Firm described in the 2022 Annual Report on Form 10-K. In June 2021, counsel for TTT moved to withdraw, citing TTT’s insolvency. On October 1, 2021, the principals of TTT filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Protection, which matter has since been converted to a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy. The principals of TTT have consented to entry of an injunction in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida as part of an agreement with Bluegreen. In addition, Bluegreen has reached a settlement with all remaining, non-bankrupt defendants in the Molfetta action. In the Carlsbad action, settlement has been reached with certain defendants, including Carlsbad Law Group, LLC. Bluegreen’s remaining claims in that case, which seek an injunction and disgorgement of profits against Pandora Marketing, LLC d/b/a Timeshare Compliance et al, proceeded to trial in August 2023 and Bluegreen received a favorable verdict for an immaterial amount.
Other Commitments, Contingencies and Guarantees
The Company, indirectly through Bluegreen and BVU, has an exclusive marketing agreement through 2024 with Bass Pro, a nationally-recognized retailer of fishing, marine, hunting, camping and sports gear, that provides the Company with the right to market and sell vacation packages at kiosks in each of Bass Pro’s retail locations and Cabela’s stores and through other means. As of September 30, 2023, Bluegreen had sales and marketing operations at a total of 130 Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Stores, including 19 unmanned, virtual kiosks. Pursuant to a settlement agreement Bluegreen entered into with Bass Pro and its affiliates during June 2019, Bluegreen paid Bass Pro $20.0 million and agreed to, among other things, make five annual payments to Bass Pro of
18