6 Suggestions For Homeowners Associations To Mitigate Their Exposure to Potential Liability
A recent case reported in Virginia Lawyers Weekly highlights the significant financial risk to homeowners associations (“HOAs”) when sidewalk maintenance is neglected. In this case, a resident tripped on an uneven sidewalk—maintained by the HOA—and suffered severe injuries. The injuries required surgery and 10 months of treatment, resulting in $200,000 in medical expenses. The plaintiff also lost valuable time from their online retail business. Ultimately, the case was settled for $650,000 before a lawsuit was even filed.
This scenario serves as a reminder HOAs to evaluate their responsibilities under their governing documents. Here are several steps HOAs can take to reduce liability and protect their communities from similar claims:
1. Conduct Regular Inspections
HOAs should establish a schedule for inspecting sidewalks and other common areas. Look for hazards such as uneven pavement, cracks, and other trip-and-fall risks. Inspections should be documented, as records can serve as evidence of diligence in case of a claim.
2. Prioritize Repairs Promptly
When issues are identified, repair them as soon as possible. In the case mentioned, the sidewalk had a two-inch height discrepancy—a tripping hazard that could have been addressed through grinding, leveling, or slab replacement. Delaying repairs increases the risk of accidents and makes claims harder to defend.
3. Enhance Lighting
Poor visibility can exacerbate sidewalk hazards. Installing streetlights or sidewalk lights can help residents navigate safely at night and deter potential accidents. Lighting improvements are a relatively small investment compared to the cost of a personal injury claim.
4. Consider Risk Transfers
HOAs should review their insurance policies to ensure adequate coverage for premises liability. Additionally, HOAs may consider hiring third-party contractors for sidewalk maintenance and ensuring these contractors carry proper insurance.
5. Communicate with Residents
Encourage residents to report hazards promptly. Open communication creates a partnership between the HOA and the community to maintain safety.
6. Consult Legal Counsel
If your HOA is unsure about its responsibilities or how to implement these steps, consult an attorney experienced in HOA law. Proactive legal advice can help reduce risk and ensure compliance with applicable regulations.
Lessons from the Case
This $650,000 settlement underscores how expensive negligence can be. By implementing regular maintenance schedules, prioritizing safety improvements, and ensuring proper insurance coverage, HOAs can mitigate these risks. Taking proactive measures is not just about avoiding lawsuits; it’s about creating a safe and welcoming community for all residents.
What happens if a tree falls from my property onto a public highway causing damage?
“Tree law” fascinates us. I guess part of the reason is because many of us have at least one tree on our property, and during severe storms, we fear what would happen if one of those trees fell on our house, our neighbor’s house, or the street. Once the fear subsides, the next question we ask ourselves is “Who would pay if the tree fell on our neighbor’s property or vice versa and caused damage?” Or our neighbor’s tree may overhang our property or its roots may cause damage to our property, “What can we do then?” These issues are important considerations for property owners and community associations when reviewing their insurance policies.
The Virginia Supreme Court added to the small body of Virginia “tree law” cases. In this case, Cline v. Dunlora South, LLC, a man driving on a public road was struck and injured by a tree that fell from private property. The man sued the property owner, claiming that the property owner’s “conduct constituted a nuisance because [its] lack of care, inspection, servicing, and/or maintenance of the subject property and tree was a condition that imperiled the safety of the public highway immediately adjacent to the property and tree, creating a danger and hazard to motorists and/or pedestrians.” The trial court dismissed the lawsuit, and on appeal the Virginia Supreme Court agreed that the property owner did not have “a duty to protect travelers on an adjoining public roadway from natural conditions on his or her land.” This blog post reviews that decision and what it means for us.
Real Estate Listing Agreements for the sale of property: Are they enforceable even if not in writing?
Generally speaking a party can enforce an oral agreement. However, courts will not enforce certain contracts unless they are in writing. For example, under Virginia Code § 11-2, commonly known as the Statute of Frauds, an agreement or contract for services to be performed in the sale of real estate by a real estate broker or real estate sales person is not enforceable “[u]nless a promise, contract, agreement, representation, assurance, or ratification, or some memorandum or note thereof, is in writing and signed by the party to be charged or his agent . . . .”
Most real estate agents and brokers understand the importance of having written listing agreements with their sellers. However, a recent decision of the Supreme Court of Virginia points out that even in the absence of a written listing agreement, an oral listing contract may be enforceable if there is sufficient documentation to remove it from the bar to enforcement of the Statute of Frauds. The Virginia Supreme Court, in the case of C. Porter Vaughan, Inc., Realtors v. Most Reverend Francis X. DiLorenzo, Bishop of The Catholic Diocese of Richmond, 279 Va. 449, 689 S.E.2d 656 (2010), better defined what is meant by “sufficient documentation.”
What can an HOA Board do if members question whether the President acted properly?
Susan Tarley answered a question that was published in the March/April 2013 issue of the Common Ground, the Community Association Institute’s Magazine for Community Association Leaders. Here is the question and answer.
Question
Our bylaws state that no reimbursement shall be given for services rendered by any board member unless voted and agreed on amongst the board members. I am a board member, and our association president has submitted bills totaling more than $600 to our management company without board approval and has been paid. A review of the past years minutes indicate no such vote was taken. We feel the president has his own monetary agenda and does not care about our community. I understand we can file a petition with 67% of the unit owners signing to have him removed, but we just want our money. What can we do?
Board of Directors
Citizen’s Arrest – From Mayberry to Suffolk
I read a story in the Virginia-Pilot in which it described an incident of Citizen’s Arrest. In the story, a fire inspector, using a flashing blue light on his car, stopped a female driver. He claimed the driver had been swerving, and he stopped her because of his concern she may have been drinking.
A Suffolk, Virginia detective witnessed the incident. After consultation with fellow police officers, the police department urged the Commonwealth’s Attorney to press charges against the fire inspector for impersonating an officer.
The Commonwealth’s Attorney declined. He cited a Virginia case, Hudson v. Commonwealth, for the legal principle that private citizens have a common law right to make a “Citizen’s Arrest.”
I will not go into all of the other complicating legal issues relating to a Citizen’s Arrest, like what obligations does a person have to obey the citizen making the arrest, what force can the citizen use to make the arrest, etc. No, my purpose is more of humorous nature, because the incident reminded me of my childhood, watching Mayberry RFD. In this particular episode, Gomer Pyle shows the proper way to make a Citizen’s Arrest of Deputy Barney Fife:
Tarley Robinson, PLC, Attorneys and Counsellors at Law
Williamsburg, Virginia
John Tarley
HOA Case Study: A Board’s statements or conduct may establish the enforceability of its governing documents
An article in the Washington Post discussed a pending case in the Virginia Supreme Court regarding a dispute between property owners and a community association regarding the owners’ operation of a vineyard and retail store on their property. In an unpublished Order, the Virginia Supreme Court upheld a Fauquier County jury verdict for the property owners that had been set aside by the trial court.
Although unpublished orders do not have “precedential value or . . . significance for the law or legal system,” this case does provide us with a look at how difficult it can be for community associations to interpret their governing documents and also how a board’s previous actions may have an effect upon future enforcement of the community’s declarations and covenants. This blog post will review the facts of that case and its applicability to your HOA.
Real Estate Listing Agreements are Contracts – Do you know your rights and obligations?
No sooner had we posted our blog article on the enforceability of listing agreements even when they are not in writing, another recent case came to our attention. This case is from the New Kent County Circuit Court. This case is another example of the increasing acrimony between sellers and brokers in a tight real estate market.
Listing Agreements
A New Twist on Identity Theft and Fraud: How can Realtors, Lenders, Title Companies and Law Firms Protect Your Clients and Yourselves?
A case out of Virginia Beach underscores the deviousness of those who engage in identity theft. As reported in , Guy Gugliotta owned two lots in Virginia Beach. A local realty company maintained contact with Gugliotta via mail in case he was interested in selling the lots. In 2012 someone purporting to be Gugliotta notified the tax assessors office to change the mailing address for tax bills. Then they notified the realty company that they had decided to sell the lots. The lots were listed for sale and in August, a purchaser made an offer.
The seller documents were handled via mail with the fraudulent seller executing documents in Florida and sending them to the closing agent. Deeds to transfer property require that the seller’s signature be notarized so surely this was the end of the road for the fraudster.
But no, not only did the thief take the identity of the owner; he also took the identity of a notary public in Florida. The notary public declared under oath that it was not his signature and that he had never notarized the documents.
Can HOAs Prohibit Owners From Flying the American Flag?
Flying the flag is an important way that Americans celebrate their liberty and the sacrifices of past and present heroes who defend it. There were news stories about a dispute between an Ohio homeowners’ association and a Vietnam veteran over a flagpole that brought an important issue to the forefront.
In Ohio, a homeowner erected a large flagpole on his property to fly the flag. The homeowners’ association told him that the flagpole (not the flag) violated the declaration of covenants for the neighborhood, and asked him to take the flagpole down. It offered to place flagpoles in common areas in the neighborhood, and suggested that the covenants would allow him to fly a flag on a pole attached to his house. He refused. After a firestorm of publicity, the HOA averted litigation by permitting the homeowner to keep his flagpole. The underlying question remains: can a homeowners’ association really prohibit an owner from flying the American Flag?
Virginia Statute – HOAs must adopt “Cost Schedule” to recover copy costs
The Virginia Code has provisions that provide members of condominium associations and homeowner associations with the ability to request copies of books and records. The statutes have also permitted associations to recover the costs of copying the requested books and records.
This blog post highlights a new statutory provision affecting common interest communities. On July 1, 2012, HOAs and condo associations will only be able to recover these copying costs if the association has adopted a cost schedule.
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