Condominium Bylaws

Community Association Governance & Meetings July 11, 2019

Are HOA or Condo Board Decisions Valid Without Annual Meetings in Michigan?

On July 2, 2019, the Michigan Court of Appeals issued an Opinion in Channel View East Condominium Association, Inc v Gregory V Ferguson, unpublished per curiam opinion of the Court of Appeals, issued July 2, 2019 (Docket No. 344149). The issue presented to the Court in Channel View was whether a condominium association’s board of directors had authority to take…
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Condominium Document Enforcement April 16, 2019

Court Rules that the Michigan Condominium Act Permits Bylaws to Allow for an Association to Recover Attorney’s Fees for Defending a Lawsuit

In Stadler v Fontainebleau Condominiums Association, unpublished opinion of the Court of Appeals, issued April 11, 2019 (Docket No. 343303), the Michigan Court of Appeals held that the plain language of the condominium bylaws permitted the condominium association to recover attorney’s fees and costs for successfully defending a co-owner’s lawsuit.  The court further held that the condominium bylaws were enforceable…
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Condominium Document Enforcement February 4, 2019

Michigan Court Upholds Condo Association Fines for Unauthorized Wind Turbine and Generator

In Oak Valley Estates Homeowners Association v Georgetta Livingstone, Unpublished Opinion of the Michigan Court of Appeals, Docket No. 338292 (January 22, 2019), the Michigan Court of Appeals upheld a monetary judgment in favor of a condominium association, for fines and attorney’s fees and costs, after granting an injunction requiring that a co-owner remove solar panels, a wind turbine and…
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Condominium Maintenance 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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Condominium Document Enforcement January 12, 2018

Michigan Court of Appeals Dismisses Condominium Bylaw Enforcement Case After Lawsuit Approval Deemed Improper

As previously discussed in HB 4446 allows Michigan Condominium Associations to enforce restrictions and defend lawsuits, it is not uncommon for developers to insert anti-lawsuit provisions into condominium documents that later have drastic consequences for Michigan condominium associations. In Sawgrass Ridge Condominium Association v Louis J Alarie, et. al., unpublished opinion of the Court of Appeals, issued January 9, 2018…
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Condominium Document Enforcement January 10, 2018

Enforcing Speed Limits in Michigan Condominium and Homeowners Associations

Introduction The overwhelming majority of condominium and homeowners associations in Michigan govern residential developments. Accordingly, many community associations have concerns about residents or guests traveling at excessive speeds throughout the neighborhood. With the growing utilization of common interest communities, more and more associations are seeking to create and enforce their own speed limits within their respective developments. For example, some…
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