So many things have shifted since the Spring of 2020 and happily, in a positive direction, the tide is turning once again. Everything slowed down last year and then shifted. One of those shifts was redirecting in-person mediation to online sessions. There are a handful of online platforms to choose … [Read more...]
Your Honor
Sometimes people assume that because I am a Mediator I am also an attorney. While there is a time and place where attorneys are needed, these people are taken aback when I explain that, in the State of Florida, although there is a vigorous educational, vetting and certification process, one … [Read more...]
CAM vs. Board: What is their Role?
What is the role of your CAM (Community Association Manger) versus that of your Association Board? Ask any homeowner or Board Member what they think the role of the CAM is and undoubtedly based on how many people were asked you will get that number in different answers! If you live in a community … [Read more...]
Receivership Options … Best Interest or Trouble for My Association?
Is a receiver needed or in the best interest of your condominium or homeowner’s association to carry on its affairs under certain circumstances? Association and board members may not even understand the duty of a receiver as defined by their state laws and governing documents. “State laws for … [Read more...]
Mediation – and Your HOA
Oftentimes when someone mentions mediation, divorce instantly comes to mind, not how it applies to your HOA. Some states have adopted mediation as the “go to” standard in HOA disputes prior to entering litigation. The State of Florida Homeowners Association Act requires presuit mediation before … [Read more...]
Electronic Voting: Good or Bad for Your Community?
As of July 1st of last year Florida Statutes were amended and now provide that Homeowner Associations (HOA) and Condominiums may conduct elections via an internet- based voting system. While a good option in theory, there has been much hullabaloo surrounding this issue. First, there are many … [Read more...]
Mediation – Looking at another’s point of view
“You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view.” (Atticus Finch in “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee, 1960). How poignant this quote from a fictional lawyer and father who teaches his children in part to see life from another person’s … [Read more...]
Mediation… That’s When You’re Getting Divorced, Right?
While visiting family and friends over the holiday weekend I shared time with lovely people I hadn’t seen in quite a while. As people often do when ‘it’s been a while’ they catch up with one another and ask, “How have you been, how is business going?” A family friend came over to me and asked … [Read more...]
A Brief History of the HOA…Ever Wonder Where It All Began?
Depending upon your age or chosen profession, or where you grew up, curiosity or love of American history, you may or may not know of Levittown, New York. In 1947 the construction firm Levitt & Sons began building the first development of tract housing. This development occurred in response … [Read more...]
5 FAQ’s re: Mediation vs. Litigation in Less Than 60 Seconds
Quicker Process: Mediation is a scheduled conference which may last a few hours or 1 to 2 days and is much quicker than going to trial; which can take weeks or months to prepare for, prior to your case being heard. More affordable: When you use a Mediator, you avoid the fees that accompany going … [Read more...]
