2018

Condo & HOA Collections August 1, 2018

MI Court Rules that MCL 559.208 Does Not Protect a Condominium Association’s Lien Priority after Taking a Deed in Lieu of Foreclosure

In Stonehenge Condominium Association v Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, NA, unpublished opinion of the Court of Appeals, issued July 24, 2018 (Docket No. 339106), the Michigan Court of Appeals held that a condominium association’s lien priority over a second mortgage was extinguished when the association received a deed to the condominium unit from the co-owner instead of…
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Firm News July 19, 2018

Hirzel Law on Fox 2 News Involving Controversial Westland Boundary Dispute

Hirzel Law, PLC has been hired to resolve a boundary dispute between the owners of lots in a platted subdivision and the developer of a proposed 88 unit site condominium in Westland, Michigan.  The attorneys at Hirzel Law, PLC have had previous success in representing clients on issues related to adverse possession and acquiescence.  The proposed development is on the…
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Technology & Security June 13, 2018

Wi-Fi Issues in Your Condominium Association or HOA

Wi-Fi has become a necessity for almost anyone who lives in a condominium association.  However, the law is often slow to evolve to new technologies and many master deeds or declarations were drafted before Wi-Fi even existed.  As a result, potential legal issues related to Wi-Fi use are rarely addressed in the governing documents of community associations. Accordingly, condominium and…
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Maintenance Repairs & Common Elements March 28, 2018

Mailboxes in Michigan Condominiums and HOAs

In many Michigan condominiums and HOAs, the governing documents contain a provision creating an Architectural Control Committee ("ACC") tasked with maintaining the overall aesthetics of structures within the community.  Normally, when an owner wishes to modify a structure, the owner may petition the association's ACC for approval.  If the owner is denied the requested modification, this can lead to claims…
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Condo & HOA Legislation March 26, 2018

SB 914: Proposed Amendment to the Michigan Condominium Act

Michigan Senate Bill 914 (2018) was introduced on March 21, 2018. Senate Bill 914 would amend various sections of the Michigan Condominium Act related to providing electronic notice of amendments to condominium documents, director voting via e-mail and setting more specific standards for co-owner inspections of a condominium association's books and records. 
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Maintenance Repairs & Common Elements March 19, 2018

Michigan Court Rules that Association is Not Required to Maintain Road to Township Standards

In McGue v Glenbrook Beach Association, unpublished opinion of the Court of Appeals, issued March 6, 2018 (Docket No. 337785), the Michigan Court of Appeals upheld the trial court’s dismissal of an owner’s claim against a Michigan Summer Resort Owners Association for failing to maintain the roads in the subdivision according to the township ordinance. In this case, James McGue…
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