Apparently someone in our neighborhood decided that the company in charge of running the HOA wasn't doing something correctly and filed a lawsuit against them. We learned about this via a letter from the HOA that was notifying us that there was little room in the budget for legal counsel, and should the court decide against the HOA that the homeowners fees would probably have to go up to cover that.

So from what I gather, if the HOA is doing something illegal or against our interests as members, that we have to pay for it? Doesn't seem legal to me. They should be responsible for their own actions.

I would suggest suing the HOA for the increased costs plus damages for agravation. At the very least, if you win, all your neighbors will have to split the costs and you will get a nice lump sum.

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C(-)ris
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/11/2013 11:56AM by C(-)ris.

You seem to misunderstand the fundamental nature of an HOA. You are the HOA. They're not some outsiders who are doing something to you. If you don't think they are making the right decisions, your recourse is to elect representatives who share your views, or stand for election yourself.

Once you do, you'll see that the issues aren't so cut-and-dried. Judgment calls must be made, and decisions have to be taken about liability, about fiduciary responsibility, about labor contracts, and about what the law requires in areas where the law offers little guidance and the HOA lawyers can think only in terms of litigation. Human failings have to be accommodated, and the question always present is whether to be strict about adherence to the rules and regs, or possibly give up the ability to enforce them in the future against something that really threatens neighborhood stability and values.

I'm not a lawyer but the HOA is Mike and his neighbors - as part of the association they are responsible for any costs.

What's not clear is what's in issue - the policies of the HOA or the actions of the 3rd party management company. If the policies of the HOA are what's at issue, the choices are don't fight the lawsuit and the HOA members are responsible for the summary judgement (presumable against them). Fight the lawsuit and they'll have to fund the legal defense. If the management company is what's at issue, then the HOA should not have to fund them and I would move to drop them.

Is the HOA being sued or the third-party management group? That's your answer. There's probably insurance for the HOA to protect against this.

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That's exactly what insurance is for. Your HOA should have insurance, and you should have your own insurance for your unit that also covers HOA screw ups. You should never have moved moved in without both insurances in place. Many lenders won't write loans on condos without it.


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Sometimes it is what it is...
and then there's times when it's really better.



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It also depends entirely on your HOA's constitution.

Usually HOA lawsuits involve named individuals.. because one of the little weasels that likes to take power over others let their tin god complex overwhelm what little sense of reality they had. And the HOA's best defense is often to throw the malefactor to the wolves.


Good luck !

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MEG
What's not clear is what's in issue - the policies of the HOA or the actions of the 3rd party management company. If the policies of the HOA are what's at issue, the choices are don't fight the lawsuit and the HOA members are responsible for the summary judgement (presumable against them). Fight the lawsuit and they'll have to fund the legal defense. If the management company is what's at issue, then the HOA should not have to fund them and I would move to drop them.

Sorry I was not more clear. Someone is taking the management company to court over how they have managed a few issues (like previous rate increases being of too large a percentage, as well as the election process for new HOA members).

.

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/11/2013 12:21PM by Black.

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mikebw

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MEG
What's not clear is what's in issue - the policies of the HOA or the actions of the 3rd party management company. If the policies of the HOA are what's at issue, the choices are don't fight the lawsuit and the HOA members are responsible for the summary judgement (presumable against them). Fight the lawsuit and they'll have to fund the legal defense. If the management company is what's at issue, then the HOA should not have to fund them and I would move to drop them.

Sorry I was not more clear. Someone is taking the management company to court over how they have managed a few issues (like previous rate increases being of too large a percentage, as well as the election process for new HOA members).

Are they dong so as private parties or on behalf of the HOA?

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Black

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mikebw

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MEG
What's not clear is what's in issue - the policies of the HOA or the actions of the 3rd party management company. If the policies of the HOA are what's at issue, the choices are don't fight the lawsuit and the HOA members are responsible for the summary judgement (presumable against them). Fight the lawsuit and they'll have to fund the legal defense. If the management company is what's at issue, then the HOA should not have to fund them and I would move to drop them.

Sorry I was not more clear. Someone is taking the management company to court over how they have managed a few issues (like previous rate increases being of too large a percentage, as well as the election process for new HOA members).

Are they dong so as private parties or on behalf of the HOA?

Private party. The notice we received identified them as a resident of the neighborhood but I do not know them.

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mikebw

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Black

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mikebw

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MEG
What's not clear is what's in issue - the policies of the HOA or the actions of the 3rd party management company. If the policies of the HOA are what's at issue, the choices are don't fight the lawsuit and the HOA members are responsible for the summary judgement (presumable against them). Fight the lawsuit and they'll have to fund the legal defense. If the management company is what's at issue, then the HOA should not have to fund them and I would move to drop them.

Sorry I was not more clear. Someone is taking the management company to court over how they have managed a few issues (like previous rate increases being of too large a percentage, as well as the election process for new HOA members).

Are they dong so as private parties or on behalf of the HOA?

Private party. The notice we received identified them as a resident of the neighborhood but I do not know them.

So they are not suing your HOA, and you are not suing the management company.
It's a private party suing the company contracted by your HOA to handle the daily administration.
Sounds like you're not involved in any way, =unless= the management company has some sort of clause that the HOA agreed to that makes the HOA responsible for legal fees relating to your HOA. So back to zero?
One important caveat-- I have no experience with HOAs

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mikebw


Sorry I was not more clear. Someone is taking the management company to court over how they have managed a few issues (like previous rate increases being of too large a percentage, as well as the election process for new HOA members).

Then that's easy: the HOA board of governors would be IDIOTS if they didn't vote to drop the management company.

HOA management companies are a dime-a-dozen with HOA's running rampant themselves.

And your HOA should have a contract with the management company for a fee. If they raise their rates prior to the end of the contract they've violated the contract. Therefore, it becomes even easier to drop them and face no legal repurcussions as they violated the contract.

~A

But it seems that the HOA would need to sue the management company, not sure how just an individual could pull this off, the contract is not with the individual, it's with the HOA. I supposed the individual could try to sue the board member that picked the management company.

OK, this helps a little. The problem as I understand it is that the management company saw fit to increase our dues by more than 10% one year which the private party alleges to be illegal. They also somehow botched the election process for a new HOA president.

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GGD
But it seems that the HOA would need to sue the management company, not sure how just an individual could pull this off, the contract is not with the individual, it's with the HOA. I supposed the individual could try to sue the board member that picked the management company.

I'm thinking maybe they wanted to run for President, and didn't get elected, for what seems to be an illegal reason.

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mikebw
OK, this helps a little. The problem as I understand it is that the management company saw fit to increase our dues by more than 10% one year which the private party alleges to be illegal

? - I would think the HOA Board decides on what the dues will be (at least that's how every HOA I've ever been on runs things) - but this may be a California thing

The management company is not your HOA; they are a separate entity. Does your contract with them hold them harmless for any mistakes? Are they blaming the issue on your Board of Directors? The contract between your HOA and the management company, as well as your covenants, will probably hold more insights than anyone here can give you. If you feel in the dark about the issue, you may have the right to demand a meeting of the Association. If there is a legal issue for which you are partly responsible, I would dispute any increase in dues; that's really more cause for a one-time special assessment than a permanent increase.

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mikebw
OK, this helps a little. The problem as I understand it is that the management company saw fit to increase our dues by more than 10% one year which the private party alleges to be illegal. They also somehow botched the election process for a new HOA president.

The lawsuit should specify the defendant(s). If the HOA is a listed party then the HOA is responsible for costs unless they can opt out of being co-defendants somehow.

Again, not a lawyer, but the dues are determined by the budget requirements, not the management company - should be a pretty cut and dry explanation of why the dues jumped and provided it's an accurate budget there should be no basis for it being "illegal" unless your HOA bylaws put a cap on a year-to-year increase in dues (doubtful) or the management company was grossly negligent in management of your funds (but that'd be another issue and they'd be sued by the HOA, not an individual).

Ditto with the election process - they're usually pretty straight forward: quorum of association members, count the votes, most wins.

Sounds like someone being pissy about the raised dues and just lost the election?

Whatever the issue.. watch them suckers like a hawk. A co-worker's HOA lost ALL their funds to embezzlement, and had to triple the dues for five years to cover it (the ex-President had no way to pay 'em back).

HOA's suck. I'm SO glad to be out of my HOA controlled house. Frickin' busybody weasel bastiches.

Increase in dues w/o a vote should be covered in your HOA's bylaws - for my HOA it's limited by the increase in the CPI (though we don't automatically raise dues each year)

Embezzlement would have been covered by an "officers and directors" insurance policy - a few hundred bucks annually for $1 million in coverage even for willful acts.

People buy houses so they don't have to deal with this crap. Why buy a house/condo and give others say and control?

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Racer X
People buy houses so they don't have to deal with this crap. Why buy a house/condo and give others say and control?

The standard counterargument is that you have someone else to worry about upkeep and repairs for you...

(I'm with you though-- never...)

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Racer X
People buy houses so they don't have to deal with this crap. Why buy a house/condo and give others say and control?

I hope this is an honest question and not a rhetorical judgement call. I'll answer as if it is the former and not the latter:

My mom has no interest in apartment living, but is not able to maintain property. She can't mow the lawn or shovel snow. For her, having a house/townhouse with a HOA set-up is a happy medium.

I am single, live alone and travel frequently for work. Working on the lawn and shoveling snow are NOT what I want to be doing when I'm home and those two things left untended when I'm away simply say, "I'm out of town! Come rob me!" Condo living is the right decision for me at this point in my life.

DM

If you are willing to surrender control, it's an OK option.

My parents have owned a condo and now a home in a retirement community both with a HOA. Far more trouble than it has been worth.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/12/2013 12:59AM by Racer X.

Racer,

You surrender a significant amount of control but you also receive a significant number of benefits such as those mentioned in the thread. It's nice to not have to shovel snow in the winter. Trust me on that. But, a owning a regular home doesn't give you ultimate authority over it. You still surrender a certain amount of control over your home and property and must live within the confines of local code. For example, you may not be allowed to cut down a tree without village approval, or build a fence that is over a certain height, etc. You may not even be allowed to put a shed in your backyard.

Robert

yep, for multi-family like condos/townhomes HOA dues normally mean no exterior maintenance costs.

re-painting exterior, landscaping, cleaning gutters, roof all covered by the monthly fee.

most residents here are elderly who moved from larger single-family homes after the kids were grown.