COLORADO: Legislative Changes to CCIOA Regarding Collection Policies
There are several important legislative updates that will impact how homeowners' associations (HOAs) manage delinquent accounts. Governor Polis has recently signed House Bill 24-1233, which introduces several modifications to the ...
RECENT ARTICLES
The Minnesota Supreme Court Guts Code Coverage for Policyholders
The Minnesota Supreme Court published its decision in St. Matthews v. State Farm. The case involved whether an insurance company ...
It’s Time to Check Your Beneficiary Designations
Many people hold a good portion of their net worth, including most of their liquid assets, in accounts that have ...
Holiday Decorations in Your Community Association
As we venture into the darker months of Winter, we approach a traditionally well-lit holiday season. Many homeowners have grand ...
Another Win at the Minnesota Supreme Court on Behalf of Policyholders
Smith Jadin Johnson recently won another case at the Minnesota Supreme Court advancing policyholder’s rights. In Else v. Auto-Owners Ins. ...
Wisconsin Residential Contractors: Protect Yourself from ATCP Claims
Wisconsin’s home improvement consumer protection laws were created under the purview of the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer ...
Midwest Victories: SJJ Protects Ohio Policyholders’ Right to Appraisal in Two Recent Cases
Smith Jadin Johnson attorneys Tim Johnson and Anthony Remick recently won two important decisions regarding insurance appraisals in Ohio that ...
Fire-damaged homeowners face insurance troubles
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…
Fire threats are leading to a loss of insurance coverage
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…
WHY DOES MY INSURANCE ESTIMATE HAVE AN ACV AND RCV NUMBER?
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…
What insurance policies generally do and do not cover
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…
Tips for making storm damage insurance claims
The U.S. has been hit by an unusual number of severe thunderstorms this summer. For example, on Aug. 11, a hailstorm tore through Billings, Montana, shattering windows and punching holes in roofs. This sort of damage can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars to repair, forcing many homeowners to file an insurance claim to recover their losses. Fortunately, there…
Help with Insurance Claims and Maintenance after a Storm
It was a beautiful, sunny day, but you noticed that clouds were starting to form. Just a few hours later, the sky was dark and the winds were picking up. Hail fell, heavy winds tore through the neighborhood and your properties were left damaged. Fortunately, they were still standing. As a property manager, you know how quickly a storm can…
LEGAL SUPPORT FOR REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALS
Realtors and other real estate professionals play an important role in assisting buyers and sellers in transactions involving homeowners associations (“HOAs”). is here to help professionals ensure that their clients have all of the information they need to make an educated decision about their particular situation, and to make sure their transaction goes as smoothly as possible. For sellers, this…
Preventative Maintenance Plan “To Do” List
Click here to download the checklist (Preventative Maintenance Plan “To Do” List) 2. ___________ Follow the Preventative Maintenance Plan. Retain qualified professionals (contractor, engineer, etc.) to inspect all association-maintained improvements. Best Practice Tip 4: Liability! The board and its management company should not do the inspections. 3. ___________ Review and Act on the Inspection Summaries. After inspections have been conducted,…
Who is responsible for storm repairs in a townhouse?
As summer rapidly approaches, we tend to think about shorts, barbeques and warm weather finally coming after a dreadful winter. However, a significant part of summer is the massive storms that happen all season long. Summer storms often afflict significant damage on roofs, exteriors to houses and even the roads. But who pays to repair storm damage when it happens…
KonMari Your HOA – Decluttering your Documents with a Records Retention and Request Policy
Being a member of the Board of Directors at your Homeowners Association can be a thankless job. With all of the issues the Board has to deal with, responding to document requests from homeowners should be an easy one. Still, one of the major complaints we hear from Boards is the overwhelming amount of paper, documents, and other files that…
Ice Dams and HOAs
With the record setting snow fall of the last few months in Minnesota, many homeowner associations are starting to see ice dams. An ice dam is a chunk of ice on the edge of your roof line and is usually caused by inadequate insulation or ventilation which allows escaping heat to melt snow on the roof. When the melted snow…
Association Violation Letters Are Not Attempts to Collect A Debt
SJJ recently won an important case in the Federal District Court of Minnesota related to a homeowners’ association’s ability to send violation letters. The case involved a homeowner who sued their association for alleged violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (“FDCPA”). The FDCPA is a federal law which protects consumers from unfair or abusive debt collection practices. Homeowner…