Even at the earliest stage of conflict mediation offers an opportunity to resolve issues in dispute before filing a lawsuit. The simple approach to requesting mediation can come from your Attorney, on your own accord, from your Board, your neighbor or a vendor may request mediation to avoid … [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...]
Difficult Association Members and How to Deal With Them
There’s always one… that one difficult neighbor. The person who always has an issue or complaint, whether it’s maintenance; your yard; or your music is too loud, the list is endless. Crafty complainers will conjure up frivolous issues; cite Florida law even when they have no legal background! While … [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...]
The Rise of the Condominium
There was a very interesting article posted in a LinkedIn group HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION (Condo & Co-Op HOA) by an attorney involved in a flag situation in Utah that made national news. Always an interesting and compelling topic, I read the article which discussed homeowner’s versus an HOA’s rule … [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...]
“Love Thy Neighbor”
In February of this year I wrote an article (see link below) about 90 year-old Arnold Abbott, founder of “Love Thy Neighbor.” Love Thy Neighbor is an all-volunteer, not for profit organization in Fort Lauderdale, Broward County, Florida committed to helping the homeless community. Fort Lauderdale … [Read more...]
What Goes Around Comes Around
Football moms can be a great bunch of women to hang out with and can be brutal during game day, particularly to their opposing teams’ moms. I speak from first-hand experience at a spring league travel game double header when the mom’s from the ‘other’ team just couldn't help themselves and decided … [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...]
