- Community Association Transition Litigation: “Who ya gonna call?”
May 5, 2023
It’s no secret that litigation can be a costly and stressful process, and this can be particularly so for community associations finding themselves facing transition litigation following the transfer of control over the community from the sponsor/developer to the unit owners. The costs can quickly become overwhelming, leading many potential claimants, including community associations, to ...
- Spring Maintenance Practices for Community Associations
March 23, 2023
Spring is in the air (for now it seems in New Jersey)! Birds are singing, flowers are blooming, and homeowners are emerging from hibernation to tackle their home maintenance projects. For community associations, spring is a crucial time to ensure that Common Elements and areas are properly maintained to avoid costly repairs down the road. Having ...
- So You’re Going to Get Deposed? Essential Tips for the New Deponent
March 16, 2023
Sitting in the “hot seat” for the first time can be a stressful and intimidating experience and especially so if there is significant money on the line. As a seasoned litigator, I have deposed more witnesses than I’d like to admit and have seen many witnesses struggle under the pressure (good for my client, bad ...
- Pre COVID-19 Construction Cost Estimates Are Likely Outdated
March 15, 2023
In New Jersey (and virtually all other states), construction defect cases for common interest community associations are heavily reliant on expert witnesses. Even if a building system is obviously defective — in that windows leak every time it rains, cracks have developed in walls, and sidewalks have sunken from improper soil compaction — the association must ...
- What Are the Different Types of Community Association Meetings?
March 14, 2023
What are the different types of association meetings? How do you know what type of meeting to have? Community associations have board meetings and member meetings; knowing the difference and scheduling the right meeting is critical. Board Meetings for Community Associations At board meetings, the board of trustees conducts its business. The board may have working sessions, ...
- To Volunteer or Not: The Role of Community Association Board Members
March 3, 2023
Community associations by and large rely on the efforts of volunteer board members to ensure their success. These individuals play a critical role in shaping the direction and priorities of the organization, and in ensuring that it remains accountable and responsive to its members. But what does it mean to be a volunteer board member for ...
- 5 Reasons Community Associations Need an Attorney That Specializes in Collections
March 1, 2023
Assessments are the lifeblood of any condominium or homeowners association. To run properly, community associations must maintain strong financials. Associations must ensure that unit owners pay their assessments on time and in full and that any delinquencies that arise are handled by a community association collection lawyer who can employ the most effective strategies for ...
- What is a Disaster Communication Plan?
February 8, 2023
In our modern world we take our ability to communicate seamlessly and instantly for granted. We communicate through more services and devices than ever before. Our options are vast: Facebook, Twitter, SMS text messaging, WhatsApp, email, traditional mail, cell phones, and even landline telephones. But what if those channels of communication, or the primary channels we ...
- What is a Disaster Preparedness Plan?
January 31, 2023
Life can change in a matter of moments. As my mother always says: “An ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure.” Benjamin Franklin may also have been known to utter the phrase once or twice, but still, I’ll give credit to my mom. Preparation is key whether you’re talking to your ...
- In The Wake Of The Surfside Tragedy Fannie Mae And Freddie Mac Issue “Temporary” Requirements For Condominiums And Cooperatives
January 31, 2022
The collapse of the Champlain Towers South in Surfside, Florida, in June 2021, sent shockwaves throughout the United States and was a wake-up call to condominiums to the dangers of aging infrastructures. In light of this tragic event, secondary mortgage market giants, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have issued bulletins advising of new “temporary” requirements ...
