Category: Opinion

Posts by GKS

Disciplinary action sought against AZ legislator in SB 1454 HOA amendments

This past Wednesday I asked the Arizona Speaker of the House and House Ethics Committee to commence disciplinary proceedings against Rep. Ugenti for her role in causing SB 1454 to be declared unconstitutional.   I also asked that a vote be called under House Rule 1 to expel Rep. Ugenti for the manner in which she added her failed HB 2371 HOA amendments to SB 1454 in the waning hours of the legislative session.

In addition to the legislative records, my argument was supported by the Statement of Facts in the complaint, Staropoli and Brown v. State of Arizona, and the statements made by our attorney in his July 23rd appearance on Horizon PBS.  There are five documents found on the legislative public info website, ALIS, that warn legislators against placing more than one subject in a bill.

I further pointed out the need to look into why there are two different versions of the Bill Summary for SB 1454, one with “HOAS” in the title and one without.  The logical conclusion is an intentional removal of the word from the title.

I concluded my email to the Speaker with,

The Legislature cannot sit idly by and allow a flagrant violation of the Arizona Constitution to go unpunished. . . .  It must send a message that such ardent belief in a bill does not allow for the law to be broken and that the end does not justify the means.

AZ judge signs order invalidating HOA amendments in SB 1454

Arizona Judge Randall Warner signed the submitted Order without change.  See

 AZ Attorney General admits SB 1454 HOA to be invalid and without effect

for the invalidated HOA amendments in SB 1454.

 

AZ Attorney General admits SB 1454 HOA to be invalid and without effect

Pursuant to a consent agreement with the State of Arizona,[1] the Attorney General’s office admitted that SB 1454 violated the AZ Constitution and sections of SB 1454 relating to certain HOA statutes to be invalid and without effect on September 13th.  SB 1454 violated Article 4, Part 2, Section 13 of the Arizona Constitution.  On July 19, 2013 plaintiffs George K. Staropoli and William M. Brown had filed suit against the State of Arizona, CV 2013-009991,[2] seeking a declaratory judgment that SB 1454 violated the Constitution.

“The founders understood that the principal mission of government was to secure people in their natural rights — to protect them against the lawless private thugs as well as of ill-intentioned legislators.” Machiavelli and America, Hadley Arkes, p. 145, The Prince (Yale University Press, 1999).

The invalidated Sections are:  2, 3, and 15 – 17, 19 – 21 of SB 1454 (Ariz. Sess. L. Ch. 254). These sections affected the following Arizona Revised Statutes:  9-461.15, 11-810, 22-512, 33-1250, 33-1260.01, 33-1261, 33-1806.01, 33-1812, and 41-2198.01.  We believed that Section 18, adding ARS 33-1261(E) to the Condominium Act, is about political signs and relates to public elections. We agreed it is covered in the title subject of “elections” and is a valid statute.

Particularly disturbing was the amendments that granted special powers to HOA managers to represent HOAs in small claims court and in OAH hearings, powers that state Certified Legal Document Preparers do not possess. The litigation rights of homeowners were put at a disadvantage because they could not also have an untrained and unlicensed third-party represent them.

Many may believe that SB 1454 had HOA amendments that would benefit homeowner rights and this lawsuit removed these benefits.  The loss of these perceived benefits lies not in this victory, but in the acts of Rep. Ugenti who is responsible for attaching, at the last legislative session, her defeated HB 2371 to SB 1454.  SB 1454 now became a bill with two subjects in violation of the constitution.[3]

The consent agreement will become binding pending acceptance and signing of the order by the Superior Court judge, expected before the 13th.

I would like to thank Executive Director Tim Hogan, Staff Attorney Joy Herr-Cardillo, and the Arizona Center for Law in the Public Interest for their outstanding support of the people.

 

References

AZ HOA bill SB 1454 and lack of transparency

As you should recall, the SB 1454 complaint was filed as a result of unethical conduct by Rep. Ugenti when she surreptitiously attached an HOA reform bill to a bill with another subject in violation of the Arizona Constitution.

Discussions with the AG’s office continue on 2 important issues. I believe, however, that we are being taken to the brink where we will need to go to court and get an injunction to stop SB 1454 from becoming effective until the court decides the issue, as had happened with SB 1070.  How much will that cost the State?

At the same time that we heard from the AG’s office on August 21st, it came known to us that an Administrative Director at the AZ Supreme Court filed a petition (R13-0041), two days after we filed the complaint, to change Rule 31 of the Supreme Court rules. This rule change would allow HOA managers to represent HOAs in small claims court, which would not be an unauthorized practice of law (UPL). State Certified Legal Document Preparers (paralegals) do not have this right. 

This request for an emergency decision was based on SB 1454 becoming law in September to avoid the legislature encroaching upon the judiciary branch that sets rules and regulations for the courts.  As it stands, if SB 1454 becomes law then we would have a second constitutional issue of a violation of the separation of powers doctrine.

There was no mention of our constitutionality challenge in the petition to change the rules. Upon being informed of the lawsuit the SC asked for a copy of the complaint, apparently not aware of it at all. I guess the petitioner misplaced it.  A decision to hear the petition is expected within 2 days.

Today, another incident of misrepresentation of the facts in regard to SB 1454, a third instance, was discovered in an HOA article by a landlord-tenant attorney writing in the Arizona School of Real Estate and Business Journal.  The school is an ADRE approved education and training facility for real estate agents and property managers.  It provides mandated courses in real estate law, agency law, contract law, and the Commissioner’s Rules (administrative law).  There are no requirements to know anything about HOAs where 23% of the population lives.

The author did not mention the constitutionality challenge either, but admitted to the co-plaintiff that she was aware of the complaint.  While she refers to SB 1454 as “a hotly contested bill,” she failed to mention that it is still being contested in the courts.  Apparently she felt no need to caution her readers that these “laws” may change or even be delayed, like SB 1070, so don’t go making firm plans right away.  The 90 day wait period between bill signing and its effective date was intentionally put into place to allow for such challenges as ours to the newly passed laws.

Are there any men and women of honor in Arizona?    Or, have those who should know better adopted the ethics of Machiavelli who believed: an ethical act is one that advances your goals or your power.

 

References

1.  See SB 1454:  crossing the line for HOAs

2.  See Rule change petition

 

HOA Justice and Reconciliation Commissions

The overall mission of the HOA Enlightenment Movement is simply to get the word out about the reality of living in an HOA.[i]  The continuing wounds inflicted on homeowners must be accounted for. Wounds that have been inflicted by rogue[ii] HOA boards supported by the indifference or pro-HOA bias of state legislators, by the “not my problem” attitude of the “good” HOAs who stand by and allow evil in their industry, and by the failure of the national educational trade group, CAI,  to help clean up the industry.

In the interest of justice and reconciliation, a vehicle such as a Truth and Reconciliation Commission[iii] is needed to heal the wounds so our communities and society can return to the principles and basic values of America. A simple “let’s start over again” or “let us be friends” kumbaya approach will not work, nor will the continued failure to hold the offenders accountable for their actions.  Homeowners have suffered financially, legally and emotionally, and closure and justice is warranted. 

The Commission would grant amnesty to offenders and violators of the governing documents and laws who caused such harms, if the offenders could show that they were acting under orders.  As occurred in the 2008 Florida HOA hearings held by Julio Robaina,[iv] the homeowner witnesses’ would confront the offenders.  The offenders would include directors, officers, managers, and HOA attorneys. 

This type of commission with powers to file suit against offenders, who cannot show that they were just following orders, can only be established through state legislation. Advocates can enlighten the media, the state legislators, homeowners, and the public in general to demand the rapid creation of such committees within their respective states.

  

References

[i] By “HOA” I am referring to that category of subdivision with a purpose to create an “an adult community” (retirement) or a resort community where owners happen to live similarly to a vacation home resort. I am speaking of those subdivisions that would be classified as a home with some or no amenities, or not even any common properties. In the former instance rules are expected and in the latter the rules are intrusive.

[ii] By “rogue” I mean those boards that have been repeatedly and intentionally grossly negligent of or have ignored their duties and obligations under state laws and the governing documents.  They do so with the knowledge that there are no meaningful penalties for such egregious conduct.

[iii]  The HOA version of this commission is based on the “Welcome to the official Truth and Reconciliation Commission Website,” http://www.justice.gov.za/trc/, August 21, 2013.