A properly drafted buy/sell agreement for privately held businesses with multiple owners avoids the risk of costly litigation that can occur when a co-owner departs from the business. The following scenario is an example of the financial risk in not having a buy/sell agreement in place: A business owner (“Buyer”) needs representation in the buyout of her business partner (“Seller”).…
In an opinion issued today by the Minnesota Court of Appeals, it upheld an insurance company’s exclusion against repairing a policyholder’s hail-damaged property with reasonably matching materials in Pleasure Creek vs. American Family. The Court relied heavily on the recent decision from the Federal 8th Circuit in Noonan v. American Family that upheld a similar exclusion. In relevant part, the…
People whose homes are damaged by fire may face a challenging time dealing with their insurance companies. The results of major wildfires, such as the Camp Fire, have changed the way that many insurers do business. Homeowners devastated by fires have faced massive losses, from their homes themselves to the landscapes that once surrounded them. After a claim, however, or…
There is more to a homeowner association than meets the eye. There’s a lot going on behind the scenes, with these associations dealing with regular challenges and potential pitfalls that can cost them money and anger residents. Knowledge of the most common homeowner association mistakes makes it easier to avoid trouble. Here are five mistakes that come up time after…
In California, 167,000 homeowners were unable to get their insurance policies renewed in 2018, which was an increase of 6% throughout the state. Furthermore, there was a 10% increase in the number of policies that were not renewed in areas likely to be impacted by wildfires. Of those who had their coverage terminated, 88,000 lived in areas where there was…
Running a successful homeowners’ association is a difficult task. Each resident within a community has their preferences for how they decorate and maintain their home, and there always seems to be one or two owners who simply do not want to operate inside the HOA guidelines. In many cases, some owners will find conflict wherever they go, regardless of how…
Insurance is generally the largest budgeted expense for most homeowners associations (HOAs). But not every insurance policy is the same. So how do HOAs know whether the insurance policy they’ve purchased meets their needs? These are just some of the things HOAs need to be consider when they’re deciding which insurance policy to purchase. What is the Policy Deductible? Every…
In the United States, community associations represent the fastest-growing form of home ownership. These organizations include townhome associations, condominium associations and cooperatives. According to a 2010 estimate from the Community Associations Institute, there were 62 million Americans living in community associations. That’s about 25 million homes. There are law firms that serve the legal needs of these associations, including their…
After you’ve made a claim, the insurance company’s adjuster will inspect your home for damage and prepare an estimate. When you receive the insurance company’s estimate, you see that it lists two amounts for “RCV” and “ACV.” How much money do you have to make repairs? ACV is an abbreviation for “actual cash value.” ACV is the actual value of…
When natural disasters strike, they may cause various forms of damage to homes and apartments. Items inside of a home or apartment may also be damaged or lost in the aftermath of a storm. A standard homeowners or renters insurance policy in the U.S. will likely cover the cost of repairing a home. It will also likely help individuals pay…
