Yes, the tide is turning. On October 1st, a new Maryland law takes effect to prevent predatory Homeowners Associations and Condo Associations from artificially running up legal bills in order to lien and foreclose on homeowners over petty matters. Why any decent or honest lawyer would advise his HOA clients to run up fake legal bills of $200,000 over a fine of $225 is astonishing. That’s a lawyer who shouldn’t just lose his license, he should be taken to a nearby field and shot!
The practice of law in this country is sullied with a dark black stain and is in desperate need of radical reform. “Out, out damned spot!” And as a tormented Lady MacBeth discovered, some stains can’t be removed except by burning. Is there any question that a certain coterie of lawyers in this country seem to be trying to burn down their own profession? Whatever happened to ethics?
Priests take a vow of poverty when entering the ministry. Why not lawyers? Predatory lawyering in America is astonishing to other countries around the world. It’s a national embarrassment.
Enough of my rant. Linked below is the new Maryland law.
original source:
http://www.marylandhomeownersassociation.info/Site/Condo_HOA_News.html
The board members and homeowners are just as guilty as the lawyers. I’ve watched this happen for five years. If the board attorney says it, the board takes it to be the gospel truth. They lack business management experience, conflict resolution skills, and the ability to anticipate the outcome of a big legal battle! When the attorney says you can fine and lien these homeowners they all jump on the “Okay Let’s Do It” bandwagon. The attorney never seems to bother to tell them the HOA is in breach of contract and using deceptive practices to conduct business with the owners. When the homeowner is smart enough to countersue, the board is totally out of their league. Freaked out, but unconcerned until they suddenly have a “brilliant” thought to demand a jury trial. “Perhaps we can fool a jury of 12 even though we can’t fool 1 homeowner?” The attorney has absolutely nothing to lose. A gain of lots of $$$ lies ahead for him/her. The board now has the HOA locomotive fully loaded and floors it full steam ahead…until the jury rules against them! Do they ever stop to think perhaps they need a new attorney? Never. They go right back to suing people!
In the end, homeowners will pick up the tab while never having the right to say one word in a discussion about lawsuits because those discussions are held in executive sessions by the board. Totally off limits to homeowners.
Engaging HOAs in lawsuits is easier than taking a bottle away from a baby. And the HOA attorneys know it!
well,lawyers are like CARP in that they both suck mud from the very bottom. Most have no ethics and it defintiely confirmed it with me when one Maryland lawyer commented that kick backs and pilfering money that is not yours is the way of the world now. Great attitude when you condone it and turn your head and would not take a case because the money issue is not a millon dollars yet. What is wrong with these people? No wonder these boards are getting away with what they are getting away with it. Yet the judicial system will lynch someone for trivial matters. Audit their financial records or require audits and see how much they get away with.