Cases: Homeowner Associations

Homeowner Associations: $156,476.33 Is The Fees/Costs Award Against An In Pro Per Plaintiff Who Lost A Demurrer To The HOA And A Subsequent Appeal

Cases: Homeowner Associations

Fee Entitlement Was Justified Under Davis-Stirling Act And Vexatious Litigant Statutes.                We have posted many times on how attorney’s fees and costs are the “tail that wags the dog in litigation” in homeowner-HOA disputes, resulting in hefty awards for the prevailing party or resulting in a large expenditure fees even though no one is […]

Homeowner Associations: Attorney’s Fees Are Not Fiduciary Duty Breach Tort Damages And $1.328 Million Fee Award Against Individual Directors Under Civil Code Section 5975 Reversed As A Matter Of Law.

Cases: Homeowner Associations

Section 5975 Fees Only Awardable Against Nonprevailing HOA.                In Colyear v. Rolling Hills Community Assn. of Rancho Palos Verdes, Case No. B308382 (2d Dist., Div. 4 Mar. 1, 2024) (partially published; fee discussion not published), plaintiff homeowner won a declaratory relief action based on a dispute over tree-trimming covenants in certain recorded Declarations, with

Homeowners Associations: 4/1 DCA Reverses As A Matter Of Law Adverse Fee Awards Against Homeowners Not Prevailing On Common Interest Development Open Meeting Act (OMA) Violations

Cases: Homeowner Associations

Fees Are Not Awardable To Prevailing HOAs Under OMA Violations; Costs Were Not Proper Because Homeowners’ Action Was Not Frivolous, Unreasonable, Or Without Foundation.             In LNSU #1, LLC v. Alta Del Mar Coastal Collection Community Assn., Case Nos. D080208/D081204 (4th Dist., Div. 1 Aug. 25, 2023) (published), the 4/1 DCA had to decide, for

Homeowner Associations, Prevailing Party: HOA’s $139,977 Attorney’s Fees Award, Made After Homeowners Dismissed Their Lawsuit Without Prejudice And Did Not Pursue Arbitration Before The Case Dismissal, Was Properly Granted

Cases: Homeowner Associations, Cases: Prevailing Party

“Prevailing Party” Definition Under Davis-Stirling Act Different Than Under Civil Code § 1717.             In Matus v. Freedom West Homes Corp., Case No. A165736 (1st Dist., Div. 2 Aug. 21, 2023) (unpublished), a group of homeowner plaintiffs filed a lawsuit against HOA, which was ordered into arbitration.  Plaintiffs dismissed their court case without prejudice 15

Fee Clause Interpretation, Homeowner Associations, Reasonableness Of Fees: $132,070.40 Fee Award To Defendant Homeowners Was Affirmed On Appeal As Against Plaintiff Homeowners In Tree Obstruction Dispute

Cases: Fee Clause Interpretation, Cases: Homeowner Associations, Cases: Reasonableness of Fees

Plaintiffs Pled CC&Rs As A Basis For Nuisance Claim, So There Was Fee Entitlement Under Civil Code Section 1717, CCP Section 1021, And Civil Code Section 5975, With The Fee Award Being Reasonable After A Minor Haircut By The Trial Judge.             Plaintiff homeowners sued neighboring homeowners in a tree obstruction action based on nuisance

Homeowner Associations, Private Attorney General: Lower Court Got It Right In Denying Fees To Homeowner And HOA Which Did Not Meet Their Main Litigation Objectives, And Homeowner Was Not Successful Party Or Provided A Significant Benefit Under CCP § 102

Cases: Homeowner Associations, Cases: Private Attorney General (CCP 1021.5)

Ending Appellate Court Comment Urges Homeowners and HOAs To Work It Out, Rather Than Run To Court, Saying “Amen” To Trial Judge’s Closing Observation.             In Artus v. Gramercy Tower Condominium Assn., Case No. A161265 (1st Dist., Div. 2 Mar. 30, 2022) (published), a homeowner sued an HOA over election voting rules and sale/leasing guidelines. 

Homeowner Associations, Prevailing Party: Trial Court’s Call That HOA Was Prevailing Party, Although Homeowners Had Partial Success, Was No Abuse Of Discretion

Cases: Homeowner Associations, Cases: Prevailing Party

$157,146.44 Was Fee Assessment Against Homeowners Arising Out Of Landscape Dispute.             In a somewhat complimentary unpublished decision to Harris v. Rojas (a Second District decision we posted on recently), the Third District in Winchester Community Assn. v. Perrotta, Case No. C085295 (3d Dist. July 20, 2021) (unpublished) had to review a discretionary “prevailing party”

Homeowner Associations: Champir Decision, Unpublished Earlier, Now Certified For Publication

Cases: Homeowner Associations

Homeowners Did Achieve Their Pragmatic Objective, So Davis-Stirling Fees Were Justified.          In Champir v. Fairbanks Ranch Assn., Case No. D077384 (4th Dist., Div. 1 June 22, 2021) (unpublished), which we reviewed when it was unpublished in our June 29, 2021 post, homeowners received a substantial fee award for prevailing against HOA under a Davis-Stirling Act fee

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