Follow these 3 secrets to help avoid conflict in a common interest development.
Tag Archives: hoa dispute
My Outlaw Words
Outlaw Words are crutches that allow the user to avoid accountability and result in ambiguous communication.
Hollywood Lawyer
Recently, I had a client tell me I was weak because I did not yell at a mediator during mediation. Initially, I was dumbfounded by the comment. But after thinking about it for a while, I realized Hollywood is partially to blame for a lack of professionalism in our practice of law. Thanks to television […]
News10 Report on Illegal Tow
Homeowner Law attorney Dan Zimberoff interviewed by San Diego News 10 reporting on alleged predatory towing by local HOA.
Accessing Local Lo-Cost Mediation Services
Local Mediation as an Option As an HOA attorney who represents individual homeowners, I often am contacted by owners who want me to assist them with a dispute that may only involve a few hundred dollars. For instance, they want to contest an association imposing a $50 fine for some rules violation like speeding or […]
Can Condos and HOAs Ban Marijuana?
California common interest developments cannot impinge on rights of owners and guests who engage in lawful marijuana use.
Dealing with Irrational Boards of Directors
As a community association attorney who has fought in the trenches for fifteen years, I have witnessed many instances where boards or individual board members act outside their authority, act irrationally, or simply ignore legitimate complaints or calls for action by homeowners.
One reader asked what to do when his board and the association's manager failed to enforce the governing documents fairly and consistently? What if a board or manager refuse an owner's request to review HOA documents? Or denies an owner's request for a hearing? In each of the foregoing circumstances, the owner should be able to point to particular provisions of the governing documents which require explicit action and compliance by the board.
The Brother-in-Law Trap
Every so often I am asked to help pick up the pieces after a homeowner or association’s repair project went awry because a cut-rate contractor was used. As tempting as it might be to use a PDR contractor (guy with a pick-up truck, dog and radio), the more prudent action is to hire a fully qualified contractor. It might cost you a bit more in the front end, but literally will save you a whole lot of money and headaches in the long term. Below is some information to help you identify the qualified contractor.