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MichaelB32 (California)
Posts: 141
Posted:
Our HOA was awarded a judgement against a condo homeowner “because they did not asked for permission”. The homeowner neighbor below is now threatening a law suit against our HOA because they are not enforcing the judgement by allowing the homeowner to keep their new floor plan.

The member had converted a three bedroom unit into a two bedroom unit by removing a wall to make a larger living room. The member had also created an open concept kitchen space by removing the kitchen bar.

This is the ruling is from the court.

1. Defendants shall, restore the subleasehold estate commonly known''Subject Property’' to its original as-built condition, pursuant to the original building plans for the Subject Property;
2. Plaintiff is the prevailing party of this action and may file a motion for fees and costs pursuant to the code;
3. The Court retains jurisdiction of this matter in order to enforce this Judgment, including restoration of the Subject Property

After the trial,a letter was send from the Board to the homeowner saying that the HOA would allow them to continue their remodeling project and their new floor plan except for installation of an Island.

The HOA and most the member do not want any more legal stuff. We are running an operating deficit cause by these legal cost to the amount of 12% of our annual dues. This member has already file bankruptcy and just want to finish their condo. Can the neighbor below force our HOA to continue more destruction of this poor family even though they do not want to.

Michael Barto
[email protected]
MelissaP1 (Alabama)
Posts: 13,836
Posted:
Anyone can sue for any reason. Can they sue? Yes. Why not? However, I wouldn't waste any time bowing down or running to the lawyer. Simply state this: Suing your HOA is suing yourself and your neighbors. If you want to sue, then we will wait on the paperwork.

That is all I would say. They choose to sue, then just hire your lawyer and counter sue for legal expenses. No one says you can't counter sue for your HOA expenses in defending itself.

Plus don't know what that condo owner was thinking when remodeling. Rule number 1. You never remodel to a level that doesn't match or is equal to other properties around it. They kind of shot themselves in the foot on this plan. A 2 bedroom is much harder to sell than a 3. Plus finding similar comps in the area is going to kill some of their home value and thus resale price. It may flow better but doesn't mean they did themselves any favors....

Former HOA President
RichardP13 (California)
Posts: 3,868
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By MelissaP1 on 09/08/2016 9:23 PM
Anyone can sue for any reason. Can they sue? Yes. Why not? However, I wouldn't waste any time bowing down or running to the lawyer. Simply state this: Suing your HOA is suing yourself and your neighbors. If you want to sue, then we will wait on the paperwork.

That is all I would say. They choose to sue, then just hire your lawyer and counter sue for legal expenses. No one says you can't counter sue for your HOA expenses in defending itself.

Plus don't know what that condo owner was thinking when remodeling. Rule number 1. You never remodel to a level that doesn't match or is equal to other properties around it. They kind of shot themselves in the foot on this plan. A 2 bedroom is much harder to sell than a 3. Plus finding similar comps in the area is going to kill some of their home value and thus resale price. It may flow better but doesn't mean they did themselves any favors....

Again, you are WRONG. There are rules written within the CCRs that address this.

The number of bathrooms are a far more contributing factor in home value. You should know that!
RichardP13 (California)
Posts: 3,868
Posted:
Michael

Based on what you have just posted, there is NO monetary judgement against the defendant. According to what you wrote, the Plaintiff MAY file a motion for fees and costs. No mention if they did and if they did, did they prevail?

It should cost anything to have the court enforce the judgement as THEY retain jurisdiction, not the HOA . Actually because of that, the person ought to take this matter up with the court.
MichaelB32 (California)
Posts: 141
Posted:
We are off the subject. The is a another unit in our complex that was converted to the same floor plan: a three bedroom to a two bedroom many years before this member moved in. One of the previous Boards even help this guy (2004).

My concern is there any legal merit in forcing the HOA to enforce their judgement or can the just tell this guy to waste his own money and will the courts support the HOA.

Our Board spend too much time hiding stuff in Executive Session. This guy is threatening all the members with this law suit. The members need to know his about it. He is the real reason that our HOA is in the Red. Not our HOA. Our HOA needs to put its foot down. Will the law support our HOA.

But them our HOA attorney I think was in it for his own hidden agenda since they ran up a case for over $100k for "not asking for permission". Why can't our HOA just grant permission. They did it before. Out HOA with our HOA attorney has made this a real mess.

Michael Barto
[email protected]
MelissaP1 (Alabama)
Posts: 13,836
Posted:
Like I said. Don't bow down to a lawsuit threat. It's just hot air. Wait to respond when there is an actual lawsuit filed. Until I see paperwork, it's just a way for someone trying to get attention and bully. The HOA is the party with the judgement not the individual member.

What action does this individual want your HOA to take to enforce the judgement? Sue again? File a lien? Garnish wages? There are only a few ways to collect on a judgement legally. Suing is a waste of time and money. It just give the HOA another judgement. Your HOA can't do much with garnishing wages. It usually requires having a social security number. Which the HOA is not required to have. Unless it can be done without one, that still requires knowing their employer. Again not required to be provided to the HOA.

A lien may be the best option. It's also a judgement. It goes against the property itself and not the owner. I would find out if a lawsuit judgement can be turned into a lien. You can keep a lien on for extended amount of time and don't really have to turn it into a foreclosure. It may satisfy their complaint the HOA is taking no action. Just respond "We placed a lien on the property". That way the person if they did sue would have no case nor proof the HOA wasn't taking action. Plus not a bad idea to have one on this property anyways considering the circumstances.

Former HOA President
RichardP13 (California)
Posts: 3,868
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By MichaelB32 on 09/09/2016 4:23 AM
We are off the subject. The is a another unit in our complex that was converted to the same floor plan: a three bedroom to a two bedroom many years before this member moved in. One of the previous Boards even help this guy (2004).

My concern is there any legal merit in forcing the HOA to enforce their judgement or can the just tell this guy to waste his own money and will the courts support the HOA.

Our Board spend too much time hiding stuff in Executive Session. This guy is threatening all the members with this law suit. The members need to know his about it. He is the real reason that our HOA is in the Red. Not our HOA. Our HOA needs to put its foot down. Will the law support our HOA.

But them our HOA attorney I think was in it for his own hidden agenda since they ran up a case for over $100k for "not asking for permission". Why can't our HOA just grant permission. They did it before. Out HOA with our HOA attorney has made this a real mess.

I am confused.

On this particular issue and homeowner, is there any monetary damages owed to the HOA.

Obviously, the HOA expended monies taking this to court. If the dollar figure was $100K, and if came out of the operating funds, and the HOA is NOT going against after that, why shouldn't a homeowner have the ability to try and recoup his and your funds.

The Board can pretty much do what they want and sounds like they have, BUT someone is accountable for the $100K and a homeowner is trying to hold their feet to the fire. In short, you have a bad situation on your hands.
LarryB13 (Arizona)
Posts: 4,099
Posted:
Michael,

I believe that only the prevailing party may seek to enforce a judgment. Assuming that the association, and not an individual member, was the prevailing party and chooses to take no further action then the members have limited recourse.

The first avenue of recourse would be to elect a new board willing to enforce the judgment.

The second avenue might be a derivative action. The requirements to pursue this will likely be laid out in the corporation code. A derivative action is brought by a group of members who essentially claim that the current elected board is not acting in the best interests of the members. From what I have seen of them, derivative actions seldom succeed due to failure to comply with the statutes. I have no first-hand knowledge of these actions but they look complicated and expensive to bring.

A third possibility would be for members to sue the association to recover that portion of their assessments that were wasted on securing the judgment. This seems pretty risky to me as the members would have to overcome the Business Judgment Rule that shields poor decision-making from liability.

Of the three things I have outlined above, the most doable and least risky would be to elect a new board.

MichaelB32 (California)
Posts: 141
Posted:
First of all I do not want the human sacrifice method (the homeowner) any more because of this guy downstairs.

The question is: If the HOA refuses to carry out the terms of the Judgement they spend $105K to obtained, and decides something else (letting them finish their remodeling), can the downstairs neighbor take any type of legal action which would force our HOA to make the upstairs neighbor the human sacrifice, again.

I think the Board should defend the upstairs neighbor this time to let them finish their remodeling even though they have a judgement to force them to put it in the original condition. Our Board has chosen not to do that.

If the HOA would have defended the upstairs neighbor instead of the prosecuting on his behalf of the downstairs neighbor (as they should had probably done in the first place), there is insurance to cover any lost that might have occurred if the HOA lost (because the HOA is the defendant). Also as the defendant,it would not be so easy for the HOA attorney to come up with all sort of expensive method to prosecute.

The downstairs neighbor is obsessed with someone living about him and this neighbor. The upstairs homeowner before had similar complaints from this downstairs neighbor because she had a small child.

Michael Barto
[email protected]
KerryL1 (California)
Posts: 14,550
Posted:
Honestly, Michael! You constantly ask for legal opinion in your posts I'm thinking your last 3-4 threads.

So far as I know your responders, no matter how well-meaning, are NOT attorneys. In addition, you identify your HOA, which is against the posting rules.
MelissaP1 (Alabama)
Posts: 13,836
Posted:
Again... Can they sue? Yes. Will they win? Depends. How good your HOA lawyer is and if they have a case. Otherwise, tell them to go bring the lawsuit paperwork. Done.

Former HOA President

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