Contingencies

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2011

Contingencies

10. Contingencies

In the ordinary course of our business, we become subject to claims or proceedings from time to time relating to the purchase, sale or financing of VOI real estate. We are also subject to matters relating to Bluegreen Communities’ business, which we now report as a discontinued operation. Additionally, from time to time, we become involved in disputes with existing and former employees, vendors, taxing jurisdictions and various other parties. From time to time in the ordinary course of business, we also receive individual consumer complaints, as well as complaints received through regulatory and consumer agencies, including Offices of State Attorney Generals. We take these matters seriously and attempt to resolve any such issues as they arise. Unless otherwise described below, we believe that these claims are routine litigation incidental to our business.

Reserves are accrued for matters in which we believe it is probable that a loss will be incurred and the amount of such loss can be reasonably estimated. These accrual amounts as of June 30, 2011 were not material. The actual costs of resolving these legal claims may be substantially higher than the amounts accrued for these claims.

Excluding the Tennessee matter below, management is not at this time able to estimate a range of reasonably possible losses in excess of accrued amounts with respect to maters in which it is reasonably possible that a loss has been incurred. In certain matters, we are unable to estimate the loss or reasonable range of loss until additional developments provide information sufficient to support an assessment of the loss or range of loss. Frequently in these matters, the claims are broad and the plaintiffs’ have not quantified or factually supported the claim.

We believe that liabilities arising from the litigation and regulatory matters discussed below, in excess of the amounts currently accrued, if any, will not have a material impact on our financial statements. However, due to the significant uncertainties involved in these legal matters, an adverse outcome in these matters could be material to our financial results.

Bluegreen Resorts

In 2005, the State of Tennessee Audit Division (the “Division”) audited certain subsidiaries within Bluegreen Resorts for the period from December 1, 2001 through December 31, 2004. On September 23, 2006, the Division issued a notice of assessment for approximately $652,000 of accommodations tax based on the use of Bluegreen Vacation Club accommodations by Bluegreen Vacation Club members who became members through the purchase of non-Tennessee property. We believe the attempt to impose such a tax is contrary to Tennessee law and have vigorously opposed such assessment by the Division. An informal conference was held in December 2007 to discuss this matter with representatives of the Division. No formal resolution of the issue was reached during the conference. By letter dated May 25, 2011, the State of Tennessee Department of Revenue issued a decision in which it held that two of the three types of transactions in question were taxable. The Department of Revenue confirmed that we had already remitted the proper amount of sales tax due on one of the two types of taxable transactions, but have taken the position that we owed a total of $731,000 in taxes and interest based on the second type of transaction. On August 1, 2011 we filed suit in the Chancery Court of Davidson County, Tennessee for the purpose of invalidating and setting aside the tax assessment made against us by the Department of Revenue.

In Case No. 2006-Ca-3374, styled Joseph M. Scheyd, Jr., P.A. vs. Bluegreen Vacations Unlimited, Inc.; Hubert A. Laird; and MSB of Destin, Inc., in the Circuit Court of the First Judicial Circuit in and for Okaloosa County, Florida, during 2006, Joseph M. Scheyd, Jr., P.A., as escrow agent, brought an interpleader action seeking a determination as to whether we, as purchaser, or Hubert A. Laird and MSB of Destin, Inc., as seller, were entitled to the $1.4 million escrow deposit being maintained with the escrow agent pursuant to a purchase and sale contract for real property located in Destin, Florida. We maintain that our decision not to close on the purchase of the property was proper under the terms of the purchase and sale contract and therefore are entitled to a return of the full escrow deposit. On June 1, 2011, the trial court made a finding that we breached the purchase and sale contract and that the plaintiff was entitled to the escrow deposit and all accrued interest. We have filed a notice of appeal with the First District Court of Appeal seeking to appeal the result of the trial court’s decision. In connection with the appeal, the escrow deposit and all accrued interest have been placed in the appropriate Court registry pending the outcome of the appeal.

The Office of the Attorney General for the State of Florida (the “AGSF”) has advised us that it has accumulated a number of consumer complaints since 2005 against us and/or our affiliates related to timeshare sales and marketing, and has requested that we propose a resolution on a collective basis of any outstanding complaints. The AGSF has also requested that we enter into a written agreement in which to establish a process and timeframe for determining consumer eligibility for relief (including, where applicable, monetary restitution).  We have determined that many of these complaints were previously addressed and/or resolved.  We are cooperating with the State and do not believe this matter will have a material effect on our results of operations, financial condition or on our sales and marketing activities in Florida.

Bluegreen Communities

The matters described below relate to Bluegreen Communities’ business, which is reported as a discontinued operation.

Bluegreen Southwest One, L.P. (“Southwest”), a subsidiary of Bluegreen Corporation, is the developer of the Mountain Lakes subdivision in Texas. In Case No. 28006, styled Betty Yvon Lesley et a1. v. Bluff Dale Development Corporation, Bluegreen Southwest One. L.P. et al., in the 266th Judicial District Court, Erath County, Texas, the plaintiffs filed a declaratory judgment action against Southwest seeking to develop their reserved mineral interests in, on and under the Mountain Lakes subdivision. The plaintiffs' claims are based on property law, oil and gas law, contract and tort theories. The property owners association and some of the individual landowners have filed cross actions against Bluegreen, Southwest and individual directors of the property owners association related to the mineral rights and certain amenities in the subdivision as described below. On January 17, 2007, the court ruled that the restrictions placed on the development that prohibited oil and gas production and development were invalid and not enforceable as a matter of law, that such restrictions did not prohibit the development of the plaintiffs’ prior reserved mineral interests and that Southwest breached its duty to lease the minerals to third parties for development. The court further ruled that Southwest was the sole holder of the right to lease the minerals to third parties. The order granting the plaintiffs’ motion was severed into Case No. 28769, styled Betty Yvon Lesley et a1. v. Bluff Dale Development Corporation, Bluegreen Southwest One. L.P. et al. in the 266th Judicial District Court, Erath County, Texas. Southwest appealed the trial court’s ruling. On January 22, 2009, in Bluegreen Southwest One, L.P. et al. v. Betty Yvon Lesley et al., in the 11th Court of Appeals, Eastland, Texas, the Appellate Court reversed the trial court’s decision and ruled in Southwest’s favor and determined that all executive rights were owned by Southwest and then transferred to the individual property owners in connection with the sales of land. All property owner claims were decided in favor of Southwest. It was also decided that Southwest did not breach a fiduciary duty to the plaintiffs as an executive rights holder. On May 14, 2009, the plaintiffs filed an appeal with the Texas Supreme Court asking the Court to reverse the Appellate Court's decision in favor of Southwest. On September 15, 2010, the Court heard oral arguments on whether to reverse or affirm the Appellate Court’s decision.No information is available as to when the Texas Supreme Court will render a decision on the appeal.

On September 18, 2008, in Case No. 2008-5U-CV-1358-WI, styled Paul A. Schwarz and Barbara S. Schwarz v. Bluegreen Communities of Georgia, LLC and Bluegreen Corporation, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia, Brunswick Division, the plaintiffs brought suit alleging fraud and misrepresentation with regards to the construction of a marina at the Sanctuary Cove subdivision located in Camden County, Georgia. The plaintiff subsequently withdrew the fraud and misrepresentation counts and filed a count alleging violation of racketeering laws. On January 25, 2010, the plaintiffs filed a second complaint seeking approval to proceed with the lawsuit as a class action on behalf of more than 100 persons alleged to have been harmed by the alleged activities in a similar manner. No decision has yet been made by the Court as to whether a class will be certified. We deny the allegations and intend to vigorously defend the lawsuit.

On June 3, 2010, in Case No. 16-2009-CA-008028, styled Community Cable Service, LLC v. Bluegreen Communities of Georgia, LLC and Sanctuary Cove at St. Andrews Sound Community Association, Inc., a/k/a Sanctuary Cove Home Developers Association, Inc., in the Circuit Court of the Fourth Judicial Circuit in and for Duval County, Florida, the plaintiffs filed suit alleging breach by Bluegreen Communities of Georgia and the community association of a bulk cable TV services contract at Bluegreen Communities’ Sanctuary Cove single family residential community being developed in Waverly, Georgia.  In its complaint, the plaintiffs allege that unpaid bulk cable fees are due from the defendants, and that the non-payment of fees will continue to accrue on a monthly basis.  Bluegreen and the community association have responded that the plaintiffs breached the parties’ contract.  The case went to mediation on September 20, 2010, but no resolution was reached. Both parties have filed motions for summary judgment which have been set for hearing on August 11, 2011.  A trial date, if necessary, will be set after the Court rules on the parties’ summary judgment motions.