By Jeff German LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL Posted: Feb. 24, 2013 Federal prosecutors have charged nearly 40 conspirators in the scheme to take over Las Vegas Valley homeowners associations. But more than four years after the investigation became public, they still … Continue reading
By Paul Squire | 02/24/2013 More than a year after three homeowners at a 55-and-older community in Calverton filed a petition against their homeowners association alleging the group broke state law, a state Supreme Court justice has ruled against the … Continue reading
By Jennifer Sorentrue Palm Beach Post Staff Writer – February 9, 2013 A small group of Century Village residents has called for the removal of the retirement community’s president, alleging the 7,000-unit condominium complex in suburban West Palm Beach has … Continue reading
By Michael E. Miller Thursday, Feb 21 2013 Icon South Beach Residents Angry After Board Prez Cashed $113,000 in Checks “and they are paying out tips in cash to avoid taxes?” Florida history is full of condominium-related corruption, including board … Continue reading
By Carole VanSickle – February 19, 2013 Vacation-home buyers are finding it harder and harder to finance their purchases, even with good credit and a healthy down payment. In some cases, the culprit behind their lenders’ skittishness is not even … Continue reading
February 18, 2013 Las Vegas, NV (KTNV) – Fraudulent, dishonest and criminal. Those are the words used to describe an HOA President and his cohorts. They’re accused in a lawsuit of stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from the homeowners … Continue reading
By: Tamara Sone – The Desert Sun – February 18, 2013 RANCHO MIRAGE — What began as a routine Homeowners Association meeting turned into something resembling a WWE wrestling brawl on Sunday at The Springs Country Club in Rancho Mirage. According … Continue reading
By Jeff German – LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL – February 4, 2013 A key player in the massive scheme to take over Las Vegas Valley homeowners associations pleaded guilty in federal court Monday. Ralph Priola, 46, a confidant of former construction boss Leon … Continue reading
By Brian Sullivan – February 1, 2013 There’s a mindset that craves the acquisition of any kind of authority and takes full—even excessive—advantage of it. Individuals afflicted with said mindset tend to amplify the significance of insignificant matters and insist, … Continue reading
February 11, 2013 BAREFOOT BAY, Fla. —A turf war is unfolding in Brevard County. A couple who re-landscaped their yard to save water has run afoul of a homeowners’ association. It’s demanding the couple put in St. Augustine grass. Bill … Continue reading
February 12, 2013 Lexology.com: Property owners are entitled to fee award arising from invalid claims made by homeowners association Barger & Wolen LLP David J. McMahon February 12, 2013 In Grossman v. Park Fort Washington Association, 2013 DAR 747 (2013), … Continue reading
February 13, 2013 VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — A Volusia County deputy has been suspended after being arrested on grand-theft charges. Investigators said the arrest didn’t involve any actions on the job, but while he was the president of a homeowners’ association … Continue reading
February 9, 2013 $1,356,880 Awarded Homeowners; $616,678 for Attorney Fees Houston – Years of frustration and lawsuits finally ended Friday February 8, 2013, when a group of homeowners at The Landing Condominium in El Lago, Texas, won their case before … Continue reading
By Justin Jouvenal – Feb 10, 2013 02:13 AM EST The feud that consumed Fairfax County’s Olde Belhaven would span four years and cost the community as much as $400,000, and it was ignited by one of the smallest of sparks: … Continue reading
By Fred Grimm – February 2, 2013 It doesn’t much matter if developers employ lowdown tactics; if they wheedle, cajole, bully, induce, mislead, secretly manipulate, pay off — whatever it takes to wrest approval for controversial projects. Unseemly, it turns out, … Continue reading
The small vegetable garden that had an Orange County man’s property management company threatening to remove it will get to stay for now. According to Bonnie Buyea, her family received an email on Tuesday from the Fairways Country Club park … Continue reading
ca5.uscourts.gov – February 08, 2013 “Thus, we hold that MCTA’s right to collect assessments is not a compensable interest under the Takings Clause, and that MCTA was not entitled to compensation for the loss of its assessment base.” This decision … Continue reading
By Mary Shanklin, Orlando Sentinel – February 6, 2013 Homeowners behind on their community-association dues would have to make good on the full amount before fighting the charges, under proposed legislation that would also bring state oversight to Florida’s homeowner associations. Sen. … Continue reading
By: George Staropoli, February 5, 2013 Citizens For Constitutional Local Government, Phoenix, AZ The legal doctrine of Monell claims appears to be suited for those instances where public policy permits violations of constitutional rights under 42 US 1983, “Civil action … Continue reading
By Jack Fink – February 4, 2013 DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) – Residents at the Sable Ridge Condominium complex say they’ll never forget the sound. Michael Issa says the eight gunshots that rang out Monday morning scared him. “I just know I heard … Continue reading
By Dan Carden – January 31, 2013 INDIANAPOLIS | Seeking to rein in tyrannical homeowners associations, the Indiana House on Thursday voted 93-3 for legislation requiring the financial and communications records of homeowners associations be made available to all association … Continue reading
Summerchase’s HOA president told we could not attend that meeting to ask questions. By: Archith Seshadri – WJBF News Channel 6 – January 31, 2013 Augusta, GA — People who live in one Richmond County neighborhood want to know how their Homeowners … Continue reading
The Illinois Supreme Court essentially has ruled that private security officers can exercise real police powers By: newssun.suntimes.com – January 31, 2013 The Illinois Supreme Court essentially has ruled that private security officers can exercise real police powers. We think the … Continue reading
By AISLING SWIFT – Naples Daily News – January 28, 2013 MARCO ISLAND —Kane, a trained service dog, can sit and stay at his owner’s Marco Island condominium community. But other terms of Larry McKay’s settlement with South Seas East Condominium … Continue reading
Proposed bill would help homeowners in gated communities State legislation would make it easier to access meeting records By Beth Brelje – February 02, 2013 More than half — 64 percent — of homes in Pike County are inside private homeowner … Continue reading
By Sonja Isger and Jennifer Sorentrue – Palm Beach Post Staff Writers – January 26, 2013 WEST PALM BEACH — Palm Beach County commissioners unanimously agreed to delay a decision on a developer’s plan to turn a former golf course near … Continue reading
By Tom Lyons – January 23, 2013 Sarasota – The Tamaron Homeowners Association is fun to hear about because its board has been known to go beyond what other HOAs do. Some get heavy handed about strict enforcement and rigid interpretations … Continue reading
by Crystal Cruz – January 28, 2013 MESA, Ariz. — Kim Harris puts out food and water for feral cats around her condo in Mesa. Last year Harris took pity on the one-time skinny animals. “When the cats are hungry … Continue reading
By Joe Beck – January 27, 2013 A woman convicted of embezzling from two parent-teacher organizations and a homeowners association was sentenced Thursday in Frederick County Circuit Court to four years in prison and ordered to pay $119,312.40 in restitution … Continue reading
By Louis DiPietroIthaca – January 23, 2013 Proceeding with a comprehensive overhaul of its lakeshore zoning law, the Ulysses Town Council is facing criticism from a group of Cayuga Lake homeowners requesting town leaders pitch the plan overboard. Over the … Continue reading
Illinois Supreme Court rules subdivision police can detain drivers By Steve Schmadeke, Chicago Tribune reporter – January 25, 2013 The homeowners associations responsible for managing subdivisions across the state have the power to enforce their own traffic rules through a private … Continue reading
By Jeff Weiner, Orlando Sentinel3:17 p.m. EST, January 23, 2013 The treasurer of a local condo association faces a felony grand-theft charge, suspected of embezzling more than $45,000 over a four-year period, records show. Investigators say management at the Semoran Club … Continue reading
The community’s HOA rules prohibit backboards from being left on the street when not in use, McCormick said. But the association doesn’t have jurisdiction over public streets, leaving enforcement to the county. Published: Jan. 24, 2013 By BROOKE EDWARDS STAGGS … Continue reading
By Jeff German LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL Leon Benzer’s long-awaited indictment this week has been a coming out party, of sorts, for the federal and local investigators who have pursued him for years. His name was linked to the massive scheme to … Continue reading
By: Melissa Foy Wichita Falls police arrest the building manager for a local condominium and charge him with embezzling from homeowner association funds. Forty-eight year-old Benny Wayne Hopkins is charged with theft over $20,000 and is not now listed on … Continue reading
By: Michael Mayo Sun Sentinel Columnist – January 23, 2013 Two nuisances of South Florida life — nitpicking condo/homeowner associations and overzealous towing companies — collided to produce a senseless tragedy last week. Elias Konwufine, 39, died after he tried to stop … Continue reading
By Billy Ball – January 23, 2013 Fear, shock and consternation: This is how some condo owners at Collins Crossing in Carrboro feel after learning each of them must cough up a $5,400 assessment fee by early February. One angry tenant says … Continue reading
By: Office of Public Affairs FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tuesday, January 15, 2013 WASHINGTON – A federal grand jury in Nevada today returned an indictment against 11 individuals for their alleged roles in a scheme to fraudulently take control of homeowners’ … Continue reading
By: TV Guide – January 16, 2013 Holly Madison‘s relationship with her homeowners association has really gone to the dogs. The former Girls Next Door star is selling her home in Southern Highlands, Las Vegas, because of an ongoing dispute with the … Continue reading
By: George K. Staropoli, Editor January 16, 2013 Richard Glassel murdered 2 board members in 2000 and was found guilty in 2003. He died in prison yesterday at 74, of natural causes. On January 10, 2003 Susan Glassel attended the … Continue reading
By David G. Savage – Tribune Washington bureau – January 15, 2013 WASHINGTON — A house that floats on the water and has no power to move on its own is a home, not a vessel, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Tuesday. The 7-2 … Continue reading
By Chris Morran – January 14, 2013 Some residents of an Indiana neighborhood say the leadership of their homeowners association have gotten a bit power-hungry and lawsuit-happy, and the HOA’s response to a local newspaper doesn’t do much to help out the association’s … Continue reading
ORLANDO, Fla. – Residents of an Orlando condo complex fed up with owners not cleaning up after their pets are using a high-tech way to catch the culprits, taking DNA from the dogs. The Vue at Lake Eola in downtown … Continue reading
By John Suayan, Galveston Bureau – January 10, 2013 GALVESTON – A Kemah homeowners association has filed suit over what it believes to be financial wrongdoing committed by one of its directors. In a lawsuit filed Jan. 7 in Galveston County District … Continue reading
By Thomas B. Langhorne It’s your castle — your house, your yard, your garden. But if you choose to live in a subdivision governed by a homeowners association, you’re not always the king. In fact, you might be too much a … Continue reading
By Jeff German Federal prosecutors are preparing to seek a long-awaited indictment as early as next week in their final push to charge conspirators in a massive scheme to take over Las Vegas Valley homeowners associations. The Las Vegas Review-Journal has … Continue reading
When Sen. Morgan Carroll sponsored the Homeowners Bill of Rights in 2005, it turns out she was just getting started in her efforts to rein in rogue homeowners associations boards and property managers who abuse HOA residents. Stricter reforms followed. … Continue reading
Omaha, NEBRASKA — The sun is setting on the solar panels atop Tim Adams’ house. The Southshore Heights Homeowners Association and Adams, an Omaha orthodontist, have settled a lawsuit over the solar panels that Adams installed on his house at … Continue reading
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Ken Baxley lived in his East Arlington house four years, but in 24 hours, it was no longer his home. “I called the police and said ‘Is this for real?’ and they said ‘Yes,’” he said. It … Continue reading
EVANS, Ga. — An investigation is underway after nearly $200,000 went missing from a local homeowners association bank account. Tom Gorta, president of the Stratford HOA in Evans, contacted the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office after realizing the money was missing … Continue reading